Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of converting HMP Berwyn to a single-occupancy cell prison in the event that the prison not reach full capacity.

As with any new prison, there has been a deliberate phased population increase at Berwyn since opening which continues to rise month on month.

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of converting HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Berwyn to a single-occupancy cell prison as we continue to plan on the basis that the establishment will hold 2,106 prisoners in a combination of non-crowded single and double occupancy cells.

Following careful risk assessment, there are benefits to some prisoners sharing cells for those who may be on the prisoner Listener Scheme or those who find it reduces stress levels or feelings of isolation.