AN MP has expressed his "disappointment" that a North-East prison will not be included in a pilot scheme to combat drugs.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has told Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham that Holme House prison, in Stockton, will not be one of 10 prisons across the country used to test new drug prevention methods.

The confirmation from the Government comes after the Justice Secretary David Gauke's visit to Holme House last week.

Whilst visiting the prison, the minister talked of prioritising measures at Holme House to combat drugs – but has decided against making it one of the prisons to take part in the pilot.

A letter from the MoJ states: "When considering which prisons to include in the group of 10, we have prioritised some of those with the most significant drugs and security problems.

"While HMP Holme House will not be in the group of 10, we will continue to work with the establishment to tackle their drugs problems.

"We believe that the work in the 10 prisons can be used as a template for the wider estate and, potentially, help inform priority areas for the spending review.

"Successful interventions will be shared as widely as possible, with these 10 prisons leading the way rather than being the limit of our ambition."

Mr Cunningham said: “It is disappointing that a prison such as Holme House that is in desperate need for better measures to tackle drugs has been side-lined and won’t be one of the ten that will be included in the pilot, particularly after the Justice Secretary visited to see the problems first hand.

“I will not stop lobbying the Government to do more in regards to Holme House, not only to tackle drugs but to ensure our prisons are fully and appropriately staffed.

“I do welcome the installation of the scanners and I hope they have an impact.”