Welsh Government 'will not back new prisons'
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Plans for new prisons in Wales will not get the backing of Welsh ministers unless "meaningful" talks take place with the UK government, public services secretary Alun Davies has said.
His announcement follows calls for the Welsh Government to refuse to sell land for a planned Port Talbot super-prison.
The comments mean it is unlikely the plan can proceed until ministers' concerns are addressed.
The Ministry of Justice said it remains committed to a prison in the town.
Mr Davies has written to Secretary of State for Justice David Gauke calling for talks.
It emerged last year that the UK government was planning a new Category C prison for up to 1,600 prisoners on undeveloped land in Baglan Moors, which is owned by the Welsh Government.
The planned site, which is in an enterprise zone, has been criticised for being too close to schools and residential properties.
Analysis by David Deans, BBC Wales reporter
Alun Davies does not refer to the Baglan prison plan directly in his statement to AMs, but his comments have big implications for the plan.
In effect, it means the site will not be sold to the UK government to allow the scheme to continue until his concerns are dealt with.
The stance does not derail the prison entirely but it puts a big and potentially difficult hurdle in its way.
On the face of it the Welsh Government says it is concerned about the impact on prisons - which are not devolved - on public services.
But the reality is that Labour ministers have been under pressure from politicians opposed to the plan from within their own party, as well as Plaid Cymru, for months.
In a statement, Mr Davies said: "I am concerned that without a meaningful an in-depth discussion with the UK government, we will continue to see increasing demand on Welsh public services and poorer outcomes for people in the criminal justice system in Wales.
"I am particularly concerned that some of the men and women in Wales who are sent to prison are not receiving the services and support they need to ensure that they can be effectively rehabilitated and supported not to re-offend."
He added: "Until we have considered this in more detail and had more detailed discussions with the UK government, I do not believe it is in the interests either of the Welsh Government or people in Wales, to see further prison development in Wales.
"I have therefore written to the secretary of state for justice to inform him that until a more meaningful dialogue with the Welsh Government takes place, we will not facilitate the further development of prisons in Wales."
The news was welcomed by Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock and Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Sayed, who said she believed the Baglan Moors prison would not now go ahead.
She said: "We've been pressing for the Welsh Government to see the light on this, and it looks like they now have, albeit after a year of mixed messages and indecision. I'm sure that the local campaign in Port Talbot against a new prison, has certainly gone a long way to influence the Welsh Government as well."
Nearly 9,000 people signed a petition against the proposals last year.
Officials at the Welsh Government had put forward 20 potential sites for a new prison but the list was whittled down to three before the land on the Baglan Industrial Park site was chosen.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We are investing £1.3bn to reform the prison estate - replacing older prisons with high-quality, modern establishments and supporting local communities.
"In Wales alone this will potentially create up to 500 jobs and contribute £11m a year to the regional economy.
"We remain committed to building a prison in Port Talbot, and continue to engage with local communities, businesses and other stakeholders."