Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:57 pm on 13 February 2018.
Again, First Minister, I have to express regrets to you that we weren’t having this discussion before; we could have prevented the privatisation of the probation service.
I do now, though, want to turn to the question of superprisons. I’m appalled to see prisons held up as a tool for economic development when their main role is to deliver rehabilitation through custodial sentences. Prisoners now are being moved to Wales who are not from Wales to serve their custodial sentences, and that means that they are moved further away from their families and support networks, and, as you know, being close to your family and support network is a very important aspect of rehabilitation.
Figures this week show a concerning range of incidents that have taken place in HMP Berwyn within its first year of operation, which surely raises questions about the need for another superprison at Port Talbot. If we were developing a Welsh justice system, we would not need a new superprison. While prison services are not devolved, you can make the decision on the sale of Welsh Government land for the Port Talbot superprison. Will you now commit to using that land for sustainable economic development and not a prison? And will you make a commitment that you will not facilitate a superprison that doesn’t meet the needs of Wales?