Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons are for the time taken in selling Reading Gaol; and when negotiations on the sale of that site will be concluded.
There have been some delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sale of Reading Prison is progressing and we expect to conclude negotiations with the preferred bidder this autumn. All matters relating to negotiations for the sale are commercially confidential.
There is no current deadline for the negotiations with the preferred bidder for Reading Prison.