PRISONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

That this House notes the recent trend towards privatisation of prisons; further notes the persistently low performance of such privatised prisons in the prison service league table and the prison quarterly league tables; questions the ability of privatised prisons to maintain prison discipline and a safe environment for prison employees; agrees with the Prison Officers' Association in its opposition to prison privatisation; and calls for an end to further privatisation of prisons including HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale which is currently tendering private applications.