Michael Gove faces quizzing on prison reform plans from Commons committee

Justice Secretary Michael Gove will be quizzed on the Government's prison reform plans later.

Mr Gove will answer questions on the proposals as he appears before the Commons Justice Committee.

Last month Prime Minister David Cameron set out wide-ranging plans to overhaul the prison system.

Ex-prisoners looking for careers in the Civil Service will not have to disclose their past convictions when they first submit their job applications under the proposals.

The plans will see the creation of six new "reform" prisons as the Government attempts to tackle high levels of violence behind bars and improve re-offending rates.

The possibility of young offenders serving their sentences in "secure schools" rather than prisons is also being explored.

Other moves announced since Mr Gove was appointed include the overturning of restrictions on books for inmates and plans to sell off Victorian prisons.

The Government has said it will spend £1.3 billion modernising the prison estate by building nine new facilities, five of which would open during this Parliament.

Mr Gove has been at the centre of a furore over Eurosceptic comments reportedly made by the Queen.

Buckingham Palace has complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) about a story in the Sun which claimed she expressed Eurosceptic views to the then deputy prime minister.

Sources close to the Cabinet minister insisted he "did not brief" the story.