Questions Raised About Super Prison

Local MP has asked questions on who will run the Wrexham ‘Super Prison’ as the Council invite people to a local supply event for prison contracts.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas posed three questions to the Secretary of State, Jeremy Wright regarding the number of employees planned for the prison, whether the prison will be run in the public or private sector and what inmates will be held at the prison.

Below is a copy of the questions and answers to the prison questions.

(1) how many employees are planned for Wrexham Prison; and what their job description and salaries will be;

No decisions have been made on whether the proposed prison in Wrexham will be operated by the public or private sector. Should the operation of the prison be competed, a decision on the operator will be made based on a number of factors including value for money for the taxpayer, safety, security and decency.

(2) on what basis he will decide whether Wrexham Prison will be run in the public or private sector;

Final decisions on the staffing profile and salaries are dependent on the operator but we estimate that between 800 and 1,100 jobs will be created directly at the prison. The variety of jobs created are likely to include management, administrative and support posts, prison officers, instructional officers, healthcare workers, psychologists, chaplains and industrial posts.

(3) on what basis he will decide which inmates are held at Wrexham Prison.

In the management of the prison population the aim is always to hold prisoners in establishments that provide the level of security required, are suitable for their gender, age and legal status, provide special facilities appropriate to prisoner needs, are near to their homes or the courts dealing with their cases and provide opportunities to engage with resettlement services before release.

Today it has also been announced that local businesses in Wrexham and the surrounding area are being invited to a “Local Supplier Engagement Event” which will provide an opportunity to meet the construction companies who are bidding to build the proposed prison.

The event, which will take place on 14 and 15 January at Redwither Tower on Wrexham’s Industrial Estate is for the construction phase only. However a similar event will be held at a later date for the operational element of the prison.

Examples of trades required are general building services, hoteliers, catering, alarm systems, cleaning, fencing, electrical services, metalwork fabrication, painting and decorating, agency labour supplies, plastering, security, waste management, printing.

The event will be free of charge. Companies will be designated a time slot on either date for a maximum of one hour where they can meet with the construction companies.

To secure an appointment at the event companies are asked to register at www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWLSEE by Monday 6 January 2014 at the latest to secure a place.

All enquiries can be sent via email to [email protected].