HC Deb 11 December 1958 vol 597 cc509-10
28. Mr. Hale

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average cost per head per week of food supplied to prisoners in Dartmoor Prison, excluding cost of preparing and cooking; and the average weekly cost per head for meat.

Mr. Renton

The current cost of food at Dartmoor is 12s. 2d. a head a week including meat. The cost may vary with seasonal fluctuations in the price of vegetables and other foods. The cost of fresh meat is 1s. a head a week; in addition the dietary includes 2 oz. of preserved meat, 8 oz. sausage meat, 5 oz. bacon and 1 lb. fish.

Mr. Hale

Is the Under-Secretary aware that this is a very tough prison and one of the very few where prisoners are constantly engaged on extremely hard work—on forest, farm and elsewhere? Is not this figure appalling and in the nature of a public scandal?

Mr. Renton

No, Sir. The average weight of fresh meat per prisoner at Dartmoor is 14.7 ounces a week. The prison diet is founded upon advice given to us by medical authorities and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It is a varied and, we are advised, nutritionally adequate diet.

Mr. Shinwell

Would some of those medical authorities like to try it for themselves? Is the hon. Member aware that I have experience of this matter and that they starved me while I was in?

Mr. Renton

I have myself tasted prison food when visiting prisons at dinner time, and I must say that from that very limited experience I have been agreeably surprised at the diet in those prisons which I have visited. However, in view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said, we shall certainly ask the Prison Commissioners to keep an eye on the diet at Dartmoor.

Mr. Hale

Will the hon. Member bear in mind that if one buys 14 ounces of meat a week for 1st. one buys very poor meat indeed, even if it is bought, under what I know are the hon. and learned Member's perfectly good buying arrangements, in bulk. All one will get is coarse, fat meat, which is wholly inadequate. Surely the Minister should look at this matter again. If he will investigate conditions not upon a parade occasion, when the prison authorities know that he is coming—and this is no criticism of the government of the prison, which is as good as it can be in this wretched place — he will really find out what prisoners are eating. The public will be shocked at the figures he has given.

Dr. Summerskill

In view of the fact that 4,000 calories a day are recommended for manual workers, can the Minister say what the prison diet to which he has referred amounts to in terms of calories?

Mr. Renton

I cannot translate it into calories without notice.