Ministers Must Listen Over Prison, Says Wrexham MP

The Government has been urged by Wrexham’s MP to listen to recommendations made in a Commons report about the town’s proposed prison.

Ian Lucas has backed recommendations made in a Welsh Affairs Select Committee report about prisons in Wales which was released on Friday.

Among the recommendations made is that the UK and Welsh Governments continue to work together on the proposals, the work of the Youth Justice Board in Wales in cutting the number of Welsh offenders continues – and that, crucially, the Ministry of Justice learn lessons from the opening of HMP Oakwood, in the West Midlands.

Mr Lucas visited HMP Oakwood in June last year. The prison is run privately and Mr Lucas pressed the Government after his visit to ensure that Wrexham’s prison was run in the public sector instead.

Speaking on Friday, he said: “There are many lessons to be learnt from HMP Oakwood and the Welsh Affairs Committee has made clear the Government should examine the problems there closely.

“A publicly run prison is important and I have always supported it. I believe, after the problems HMP Oakwood experienced, even the current Government was forced to accept the proposed prison for Wrexham had to be run in the public sector. It is good the Ministry of Justice finally realised this after months of lobbying.

“They should now listen to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee when they say there are further lessons to be learnt.”