PRISON IN NORTH WALES

That this House notes the findings of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in its reports on Welsh prisoners in the prison estate, HC 74, 2006-07, and Welsh prisoners in the prison estate: follow up, HC 143, 2009-10, which both note the urgent need for a prison in north Wales; is disappointed that the announced prison at Caernarfon did not go ahead; believes that it was a retrograde step by the previous government to widen its search for prison locations and to aim for prisons of 1,500 places when smaller-sized prisons are more effective in rehabilitating prisoners; further notes that around 800 prisoners from north Wales are currently housed in prisons away from their home area which does not assist re-integration into society; welcomes moves towards more community-based sentencing, but believes that this will only be effective with proper funding; further believes that a small to medium-sized prison in north Wales should be a part of any new strategy; and calls on the Government to ensure that funding is available and prioritised for a suitable-sized prison in north Wales to meet the area's needs.