HC Deb 01 November 1976 vol 918 cc502-3W
Mr. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the average cost per week for each of the past five years of maintaining a person in prison in Scotland;

(2) what was the annual cost for each of the past five years of maintaining in prison in Scotland persons sentenced in default of fine payments and for breach of the peace.

Mr. Harry Ewing

The average cost per week of maintaining an inmate in penal establishments in Scotland, for the five most recent financial years for which figures are available, was

1970–71 £19.64
1971–72 £23.12
1972–73 £26.61
1973–74 £35.21
1974–75 £47.90

I regret that it is not practicable to identify costs for particular categories of inmates.