HC Deb 25 May 1944 vol 400 cc912-3
24. Mr. Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mailbags a year are sewn by prisoners; who they are sold to; whether the prisoners are paid who make the bags; and if any profit is made by the transaction.

Mt. H. Morrison

During the last financial year about 2,360,000 mailbags were made. Prisoners employed on this work may, like others, become eligible at certain stages of their sentences to earn small weekly sums under the prison earnings scheme. The mail bags were made for the General Post Office and for H.M. Stationery Office, but no payment was received from them for this work.

Mr. Thorne

Can my right hon. Friend state the number of mailbags that are sold to the Post Office?

Mr. Morrison

I cannot say, but they are not sold to the Post Office at all; the Post Office does not pay for them. I should think that the bulk of this number would be for the Post Office.