By John Townend
Hull Daily Mail
EAST YORKSHIRE — Justice Secretary Chris Grayling made the decision about HMP Wolds last November and it has now merged with HMP Everthorpe, meaning there is only one governor and one management structure.
On the eve of the merger, a prison service spokesman said: “The forthcoming return of HMP Wolds to the public sector has provided the opportunity for a merger with HMP Everthorpe in line with the ongoing competition process to drive down costs and drive forward innovation across the estate.
“Merging the two sites into one prison, led by one governor and one management team, will allow us to make the most of the resources available.”
The decision to move HMP Wolds back into the hands of the public sector was unveiled by the Secretary of State for Justice on November 8, last year, as part of a wider announcement about the future use of competition across the prison estate.
Eight months after the merger was announced, the Prison Service says it cannot say how many jobs could be lost or what the cost savings will be.
Full story: Jobs threat as prisons cut costs