Last week, I visited several secondary schools in my constituency as part of my annual inter-schools debating competition. Witchford Village College held an interesting debate on the motion - “This House believes that prisons serve a useful purpose."

As a former Prisons Minister, it was great to listen to the students’ well-reasoned arguments about prisoners’ mental health and crime prevention. Particular congratulations must go to Roxie and Reece, who will continue on to the final at the House of Commons.