7. 7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Superprisons

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:31 pm on 20 September 2017.

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Photo of Carl Sargeant Carl Sargeant Labour 6:31, 20 September 2017

Respectfully, to the Member, I think what we should remain to do is stick to the facts. We are making many assumptions about what’s happening here. The two-day event held by the Ministry of Justice with your community is an important process where you can ask those questions effectively, which, I hope, will be answered accordingly by the Ministry of Justice.

Llywydd, the issue in regard to the prison estate, as I mentioned earlier on, is a matter for the Ministry of Justice. These are not decisions for us to make, but before we flatly oppose a modern prison we should think about the cost of that to Welsh prisoners, their families and not least the communities to which they return on completion of their sentences. Even prisoners and their partners, families and children should not have to visit them in institutions that cannot fully respect the human dignity of both prisoners and their families. I think we should ensure that for all.

The Ministry of Justice anticipated, when operational, this development will create around 500 new jobs and inject around £11 million a year into the local economy. These are certainly issues that should be taken up with the Ministry of Justice. As Dai Rees has said, he wants to see the evidence around that, and I think it’s a fair question to ask. There is a significant amount of alternative land allocated for employment use in the area. I refer Members to the local development plan. The Welsh Government has and will continue to make a comprehensive support package available for companies in Neath Port Talbot that wish to expand and grow. As we oppose, in the amendments, in the last two years we’ve offered nearly £1.5 million to nine companies in that area, as well as £13 million across the Tata Steel estate.

Llywydd, I recognise the need to move on, but as regards the flooding issue, as Members asked earlier on, it will be up to the Ministry of Justice—