The Size of the Prison Estate in Wales

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister (in respect of his 'law officer' responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 15 October 2019.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 2:34, 15 October 2019

There is a real crisis, I think, in terms of the secure estate in Wales. There's always a focus on large male prisons, but there's no focus at all on the nature of the estate, and the way in which particularly women and young offenders are treated within the system. Now, this is an area where we have an entirely broken settlement, where the devolution settlement prevents both the United Kingdom Government and the Welsh Government delivering any coherent or holistic policy. So, it's a matter of absolute importance that we're able, first of all, of course, to secure the devolution of these matters to enable this place to plan a system more effectively, but, more importantly, and more urgently, possibly, to ensure that we have the facilities in this country to enable women and young offenders to be held properly in secure accommodation, where that is necessary, but also to receive the services that they require in order to promote rehabilitation within that. None of those exist at the moment within Wales. Is it possible, Counsel General, for you to use your office in order to promote this case with the Ministry of Justice and to ensure that we are able to deliver holistic policy in this field?