HC Deb 17 May 1976 vol 911 c324W
Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total annual cost of the prison service in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. John

The following table gives information for the financial years 1965–66 to 1974–75:

Years £ million (at current prices)
1965–66 31.4
1966–67 32.9
1967–68 38.9
1968–69 46.1
1969–70 54.1
1970–71 62.5
1971–72 78.2
1972–73 88.4
1973–74 103.8
1974–75 144.7

Comparable information for the year 1975–76 is not yet available.

These figures include allied service expenditure and capital expenditure on building and plant. They do not include the cost of the headquarters administration of prisons up to the financial year 1974–75 when it was included in the total for Home Office Departments and is not identifiable; for 1974–75 however £6.7 million for this item is included.

Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been employed in the prison service in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years.

Dr. Summerskill

At 1st January each yar the totals were:

1967 12,761
1968 13,916
1969 14,796
1970 15,766
1971 16,592
1972 17,823
1973 18,869
1974 18,751
1975 19,698
1976 21,179

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