Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what impact assessment the Government has made of the covid-19 outbreak on the sale of Reading Gaol and the preferred bidder’s financial status.

The department continues to keep all of its property transactions under review. We are in commercial negotiations with the preferred bidder and all matters relating to the bid including the preferred bidder’s financial status are commercially sensitive and confidential. We will always seek best value for the taxpayer.