§ The Earl of Longfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the total expenditure on the Prison Service during the last year for which figures are available; how much of this expenditure can be attributed to (a) the resettlement and (b) the aftercare of prisoners; how much of each of the latter figures consists of payments made directly to the Home Office; how much consists of payments made in support of the Probation Service; and how much consists of payments made in grants to voluntary bodies?
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)Responsibility for the subject of this Question has been delegated to the Prison Service and its Director General, Mr. Derek Lewis. The Director General has therefore responded to the Question and his letter is given below.
Letter to the Earl of Longford from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Derek Lewis, dated 29 March 1994
Lord Ferrers has asked me to reply to your recent Question about expenditure on the Prison Service and the resettlement and aftercare of prisoners.
In 1992–93 total Prison Service expenditure was £1,470.3 million, including £18 million on seconded probation staff, £3.5 million on payments to prisoners and for their clothing, travel and subsistence on release and a £0.2 million grant to the voluntary body NACRO Prison Link Unit to assist with resettlement.
The Home Office also paid £17.0 million through the Probation Supervision and Accommodation grants schemes to private and voluntary sector organisations for aftercare and other work with offenders in the community.