Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:01 pm on 22 March 2017.
Well, I thank Dr Lloyd for his questions—very animated he was too. I think—a couple of points, if we break them down. He starts to present the argument of being opposed to this on a constitutional issue. I think that’s unfortunate, because, actually, this is about making sure that our prisoners, our Welsh people who live in Wales, have a facility that can help them with the issue of—[Interruption.] If the Member wants a question, that’s a matter for the Presiding Officer. But the issue, if I may, stems from the—. The argument he presents is that this is something new. The issue around health and social care and other elements that we deliver in our services to prevent reoffending isn’t new to Wales. We deliver that in Cardiff, we deliver that in Bridgend, we deliver that in Swansea already. So, this is not a new anathema; this is about something that we are experienced about and the MOJ pay for those processes, too. But it is something that we have to make sure that we are fully appraised of, and have the funding that follows those procedures alongside.
I also accept that the Member is concerned, on a political basis, about having a prison in any particular area. They, generally, when you apply for a prison in whatever area, aren’t popular, but the Member wishes or seeks to exploit that on a political basis—I think it’s quite unfortunate. Let me tell the Member about the process he started with, about how did this all start—[Interruption.] Llywydd, I’m more than happy to have further questions, but—