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| Welsh Government 'will not back new prisons' | Welsh Government 'will not back new prisons' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Plans for new prisons in Wales will not get the backing of Welsh ministers unless "meaningful" talks take place with the UK government, public services secretary Alun Davies has said. | Plans for new prisons in Wales will not get the backing of Welsh ministers unless "meaningful" talks take place with the UK government, public services secretary Alun Davies has said. |
| His announcement follows calls for the Welsh Government to refuse to sell land for a planned Port Talbot super-prison. | His announcement follows calls for the Welsh Government to refuse to sell land for a planned Port Talbot super-prison. |
| The comments mean it is unlikely the plan can proceed until ministers' concerns are addressed. | The comments mean it is unlikely the plan can proceed until ministers' concerns are addressed. |
| The Ministry of Justice said it remains committed to a prison in the town. | The Ministry of Justice said it remains committed to a prison in the town. |
| But the Labour MP for Aberavon, Stephen Kinnock, said a UK government minister told him that the plans are in fact on hold. | |
| It emerged last year that the UK government was planning a new Category C prison for up to 1,600 prisoners on undeveloped land in Baglan Moors, which is owned by the Welsh Government. | It emerged last year that the UK government was planning a new Category C prison for up to 1,600 prisoners on undeveloped land in Baglan Moors, which is owned by the Welsh Government. |
| The planned site, which is in an enterprise zone, has been criticised for being too close to schools and residential properties. | The planned site, which is in an enterprise zone, has been criticised for being too close to schools and residential properties. |
| Analysis by David Deans, BBC Wales reporter | Analysis by David Deans, BBC Wales reporter |
| Alun Davies does not refer to the Baglan prison plan directly in his statement to AMs, but his comments have big implications for the plan. | Alun Davies does not refer to the Baglan prison plan directly in his statement to AMs, but his comments have big implications for the plan. |
| In effect, it means the site will not be sold to the UK government to allow the scheme to continue until his concerns are dealt with. | In effect, it means the site will not be sold to the UK government to allow the scheme to continue until his concerns are dealt with. |
| The stance does not derail the prison entirely but it puts a big and potentially difficult hurdle in its way. | The stance does not derail the prison entirely but it puts a big and potentially difficult hurdle in its way. |
| On the face of it the Welsh Government says it is concerned about the impact on prisons - which are not devolved - on public services. | On the face of it the Welsh Government says it is concerned about the impact on prisons - which are not devolved - on public services. |
| But the reality is that Labour ministers have been under pressure from politicians opposed to the plan from within their own party, as well as Plaid Cymru, for months. | But the reality is that Labour ministers have been under pressure from politicians opposed to the plan from within their own party, as well as Plaid Cymru, for months. |
| In a statement, Mr Davies said: "I am concerned that without a meaningful an in-depth discussion with the UK government, we will continue to see increasing demand on Welsh public services and poorer outcomes for people in the criminal justice system in Wales. | In a statement, Mr Davies said: "I am concerned that without a meaningful an in-depth discussion with the UK government, we will continue to see increasing demand on Welsh public services and poorer outcomes for people in the criminal justice system in Wales. |
| "I am particularly concerned that some of the men and women in Wales who are sent to prison are not receiving the services and support they need to ensure that they can be effectively rehabilitated and supported not to re-offend." | "I am particularly concerned that some of the men and women in Wales who are sent to prison are not receiving the services and support they need to ensure that they can be effectively rehabilitated and supported not to re-offend." |
| He added: "Until we have considered this in more detail and had more detailed discussions with the UK government, I do not believe it is in the interests either of the Welsh Government or people in Wales, to see further prison development in Wales. | He added: "Until we have considered this in more detail and had more detailed discussions with the UK government, I do not believe it is in the interests either of the Welsh Government or people in Wales, to see further prison development in Wales. |
| "I have therefore written to the secretary of state for justice to inform him that until a more meaningful dialogue with the Welsh Government takes place, we will not facilitate the further development of prisons in Wales." | "I have therefore written to the secretary of state for justice to inform him that until a more meaningful dialogue with the Welsh Government takes place, we will not facilitate the further development of prisons in Wales." |
| In a response, a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokeswoman said: "We remain committed to building a prison in Port Talbot, and continue to engage with local communities, businesses and other stakeholders." | |
| But Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock said he and campaigners met with prisons minister Rory Stewart last week, who told him the plans were on hold. | |
| He said: "The minister made it clear that he had listened carefully to the concerns and arguments that we had been making for some time, and had therefore decided to place further plans for the construction of a prison in Baglan on hold. | |
| "He also made it clear that the MoJ remains committed to building a new prison in South Wales, and it was agreed that we would work with him and the Welsh Government to identify a viable alternative site or sites." | |
| He said he hoped it was "just a case of crossed wires inside the department". | |
| Mr Kinnock had welcomed the Welsh Government's stance, as did Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Sayed, who said she believed the Baglan Moors prison would not now go ahead. | |
| She said: "We've been pressing for the Welsh Government to see the light on this, and it looks like they now have, albeit after a year of mixed messages and indecision. I'm sure that the local campaign in Port Talbot against a new prison, has certainly gone a long way to influence the Welsh Government as well." | She said: "We've been pressing for the Welsh Government to see the light on this, and it looks like they now have, albeit after a year of mixed messages and indecision. I'm sure that the local campaign in Port Talbot against a new prison, has certainly gone a long way to influence the Welsh Government as well." |
| Nearly 9,000 people signed a petition against the proposals last year. | Nearly 9,000 people signed a petition against the proposals last year. |
| Officials at the Welsh Government had put forward 20 potential sites for a new prison but the list was whittled down to three before the land on the Baglan Industrial Park site was chosen. | Officials at the Welsh Government had put forward 20 potential sites for a new prison but the list was whittled down to three before the land on the Baglan Industrial Park site was chosen. |