'Too few' prisoners for new jail

A Conservative MP says the UK government is more likely to build a prison in England than north Wales, where there are too few inmates.

Shadow Wales Office Minister David Jones said he obtained figures from the justice minister and fears north Wales has "insufficient critical mass".

The UK government wants 7,500 more prison places by 2014, by building a series of jails holding 1,500 inmates.

The Ministry of Justice said sites in north Wales were being considered.

Mr Jones asked Justice Minister Maria Eagle for details of prisoners in north Wales.

According to Mr Jones, Ms Eagle replied in a written parliamentary response: "As of 8 May 2009 there were 580 adults serving a custodial sentence and 78 adults who were either held on remand or were convicted awaiting sentence that have a home address in the North Wales Police force area."

Mr Jones said: "I'm afraid that the figures tend to indicate that there is probably insufficient critical mass to support a 1,500-place prison in north Wales.

"The prison service always were sceptical about the case for a north Wales prison.

"The small one proposed for Caernarfon would have been about right, but if it's to be a 1,500-place one, they'll probably want to put it in the north west of England."

A week ago, Justice Minister Maria Eagle said that one of three new large jails could be built in north Wales, provided a suitable site was found.

An alternative site has been sought since the Ministry of Justice announced in September it was not proceeding with plans for an 800-inmate prison at the former Friction Dynamex brake factory near Caernarfon, Gwynedd.

It said closer scrutiny of the asbestos-contaminated land on the Menai Strait led it to conclude it was not appropriate for its needs.

The Ministry of Justice said the search for new prisons sites would be focused on London, the north west of England, north Wales, and West Yorkshire.

Maria Eagle added: "Finding the most appropriate place for a new prison is of paramount importance.

"They should be located in those areas where there is the greatest need, areas where the greater number of prisoners come from."

A shortlist of potential sites in north Wales and England will be published after the new search, and consultation with local MPs, local authorities and residents will then take place.

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