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Councils in north Wales have until the end of the month to come up with ideas for the location of a new prison.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says it may build a jail in the area, amid mounting calls for one - although it remains uncertain if it will go ahead.

Welsh MPs say a prison for up to 500 men is needed in the north, and also highlighted the lack of a women's jail.

The MoJ "acknowledged" the absence of custody for women in Wales, and said it was looking at a number of options.

There are currently five prisons in Wales, but all in the south - Cardiff, Swansea, Parc in Bridgend, Usk and Prescoed in Pontypool.

I have given careful consideration to the recommendations in this report specific to Welsh prisoners and Welsh young people in custody Justice Minister David Hanson

The MPs' inquiry in June was responding to concerns about the imprisonment of nearly half of Welsh prisoners outside Wales.

The Welsh affairs committee report highlighted the lack of custodial facilities in mid Wales and criticised the provision of Welsh language materials in some prisons.

In that report, the committee recommended that custodial facilities "be provided in north Wales as soon as is practicable."

The North Wales Criminal Justice Board has now written to local authorities, asking them to suggest possible sites for a new prison, giving them until the end of August to respond.

Justice Minister David Hanson, the MP for Delyn, said he had given "careful consideration" to the report, which drew attention to the need for additional prison places and appropriate offender management services.

'Extra prison spaces'

He said: "It (the report) also highlights how far some prisoners are held from their home and community, the resettlement needs of prisoners and the provision of Welsh language services.

"These are all issues that the Government is considering as part of our programme to provide 9,500 extra prison spaces in England and Wales by 2012.

"At the moment no further decisions have been taken on the location of any other new prison sites."

On Wednesday, Mr Justice Roderick Evans added his voice to calls for a new north Wales prison, saying there were a number of practical reasons one was needed.

He said it was important prisoners were held close to their homes to maintain links with their families, and called it a "disgrace" there was no women's prison in Wales.