Diolch, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to restate the Welsh Government's commitment to working to ensure that prison is an environment that is safe and secure, enabling staff and resources to concentrate on the rehabilitation of offenders. The first statement in the UKIP motion is inherently contradictory. The decision to send someone to prison and deprive them of their liberty is obviously an act of punishment in itself. Once that punishment is achieved, we should focus on rehabilitation. I strongly believe that the focus in prisons should be on rehabilitation and reconnecting inmates with the values of society at large. 

Of course, the prison service is the responsibility of the UK Government. The Welsh Government works closely with the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service to provide devolved services that are vital in maintaining prisoner welfare and reducing reoffending. We reject the Conservative amendments, which appear designed to ignore the very large contribution made by devolved services.