Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)

- Hansard -

I have the great honour to present a petition organised by Lynne Holcombe and Martin Field and signed as leading petitioners by Adam Trundle and Verity Sayers against the closure of Wellingborough prison. The Speaker has granted me a debate tomorrow on the very matter. There are 3,000 signatures against the closure of Wellingborough prison, which is the third cheapest prison in the country, and with the changes in the Ministry of Justice, I hope the decision will be reviewed.

The petition reads:

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.

The Humble Petition of residents of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas,

Sheweth, that the proposed closure of Wellingborough Prison would result in the loss of up to 600 jobs, reduce capacity in the already overcrowded prison estate and would cost the taxpayer millions of pounds as it is the third cheapest prison to run in the whole prison estate, and is mindful of the Borough Council of Wellingborough’s unanimous decision to keep the prison open.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges the Secretary of State for Justice to postpone the closure of Wellingborough Prison until a full review of the prison estate takes place, and a proper cost-benefit analysis is undertaken for each prison and an oral statement is made in the House of Commons which, if any, prison should close.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

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