Are There No Prisons?

"'Are there no prisons?' asked Scrooge.

'Plenty of prisons' said the gentlemen laying his pen down again. 

'And the Union work houses?' demanded Scrooge, 'Are they still in operation?'" 

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"'Have they no refuge or resource?' cried Scrooge.

'Are there no prisons?' said the spirit, turning on him for the last time with own words, 'Are there no workhouses?'"

The same words in two different contexts both are showing two very different things. The first context, coming from Scrooge himself in response to a man asking him to provide for the poor, shows how cold Scrooge is before his encounter with the spirit. I believe this line was meant to emphasize just how little of a heart Scrooge had. However, the second time this is spoken serves for the opposite reason.

This time the Ghost of Christmas Present says Scrooge's words, in response to Scrooge asking if the poor had anywhere to go, or if they had anything to eat. Scrooge had just seen a poor family and some poor children. Now Scrooge understands just how bad the living conditions of these people really are. He wants to help the poor. Just like the man back on page nine. The spirit replies with Scrooge's words and leaves. This scene was included to show that Scrooge's visits from the spirits are making Scrooge a better person.