Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. Can I say that I'm extremely pleased to open this debate on behalf of the Petitions Committee? This the second debate that has been held since the Petitions Committee agreed to consider referring any petition that gathers more than 5,000 signatures for a debate in the Plenary. The petitioners, led by Victoria Griffiths, are seeking to oppose the development of a new, so-called superprison on land owned by the Welsh Government in Baglan, Port Talbot.

I would like to begin by thanking the petitioners for bringing this petition forward and to congratulate them on running a passionate and eye-catching campaign. I remember it was certainly a vibrant occasion when the petitioners came to the Senedd to hand the petition over to the committee back in October. I know that the petitioners have also worked closely with their local Assembly Members on this issue, and I'm sure that a number of Members will be seeking to contribute during the debate this afternoon.

The petition in front of us collected 8,791 signatures using a combination of the Assembly's website and a local paper petition. This and the turnout at the Senedd indicate that there is a significant degree of local opposition to the possibility of a prison in Port Talbot, and I'm sure that this is not news to anyone here today. The petitioners have told the committee that they have a number of concerns with the Ministry of Justice's proposal to build a prison on the site, and, before I outline these, it is perhaps worth covering a bit of background about the proposals and their current status.

In March 2017, the UK Government announced that four potential sites for new prisons in England and Wales had been identified by the Ministry of Justice. We understand that, prior to this, the Welsh Government had provided a list of 20 possible sites in Wales to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice has stated that it undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the 20 sites, and that Port Talbot was selected as the best potential site for a new category C prison build in Wales. As a result, Port Talbot was the only site in Wales chosen to proceed to a planning application. In the same announcement in March 2017, the then Secretary of State for Justice indicated that considerations over value for money and affordability would be part of the Ministry of Justice's final decision over whether to proceed with a new prison on the site. 

In answers given at Westminster on this subject in September, the prisons Minister indicated that Port Talbot was chosen for a number of reasons. These include the capacity of local infrastructure to support the prison and the potential for benefits to the local community. It is clear from the petition that large parts of the community dispute both of these statements. Media reports have stated that the proposed category C prison would have a capacity of 1,600 prisoners when it is fully operational, though I understand that this has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice. The UK Government has also stated that there are currently insufficient prison places available and, specifically, that there are not enough category C prison places in south Wales. 

In their response to the committee's initial correspondence about the petition, the Welsh Government confirmed that they received an approach from the Ministry of Justice and provided a list of 20 possible sites in response. The Government also reiterated that the decision over whether to proceed is a matter for the Ministry of Justice and that any planning applications would be considered locally by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. However, as I previously stated, the petition calls on the Welsh Government—which owns the land involved—not to sell to the Ministry of Justice for the purposes of development. During a previous discussion on this subject in Plenary in September, the then Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children stated that no agreement has been made with the UK Government regarding the sale of the land, and no discussions over its value have taken place.

Given that justice is not a devolved subject area, and that a decision whether or not to proceed with the development of a prison will be taken by the UK Government, it is the issue of the sale of the land that the Petitions Committee will primarily be considering going forward. However, we have written to the prisons Minister to make him aware of this petition and the debate today. I am sure that local Members will wish to outline the views of the local community in more detail during their contributions, so I will limit my further comments to the concerns raised directly with the Petitions Committee.

The petitioners have outlined a number of concerns, most of which relate to the capacity of Port Talbot and the surrounding areas to accommodate a prison. These include the availability of health services and the capacity of local roads both during the construction of the prison and once it is operational. The petitioners have also questioned the impact it could have on local employment levels and the prospects for local people looking for jobs. This is due to the potential for the prison to operate as a rehabilitation centre, with inmates potentially allowed limited day release for training placements for work experience, which the petitioners fear will take opportunities away from local people. They have also raised concerns over local housing availability, which could be put under increased pressure if inmates choose to stay in the area following their release. Finally, the petitioners have highlighted that the land identified is an enterprise zone and is, apparently, subject to a covenant on its use. Schedules to this covenant have been quoted that state that the land should be used for the purpose of an industrial park and not for other purposes.

Due to a recognition that it was important to proceed with this debate in a timely manner, the committee has not had time to investigate any of these concerns or claims in detail at this stage. We will return to consider the petition again at a future committee meeting. In doing so, I hope we will be able to also consider the reaction of the petitioners to the points raised today and the answers provided. As a result, the committee is presenting this petition to the Assembly without drawing conclusions or making recommendations in any particular direction at this stage. However, we feel that this is an important debate to have, and we hope that it will provide everyone who signed the petition with further information and answers to the concerns that they hold.