§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the expenditure in the last financial year on improving the basic structure of, improving the facilities in, and on decorating prison kitchens.
§ Mr. MellorIn the financial year 1985–86 £1,972,000 was spent on major schemes to improve the structure of and facilities in kitchens in existing prison establishments. This figure represents only expenditure actually incurred during the year; it does not represent the total value of improvement projects, some of which extend over several years. In addition £254,000 was spend on major repairs and maintenance and £241,000 was spent on additional and replacement equipment for existing kitchens.
These figures do not include expenditure on kitchens in establishments still under construction or taken into use in 301W 1985–86, neither do they cover minor schemes or day-to-day work on repairs and maintenance which is often carried out using inmate labour. Expenditure on such minor works could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prison kitchens; what is the procedure for their inspection; and how many outbreaks of food poisoning there have been in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MellorThere are 124 prison kitchens, and all are inspected regularly and routinely by regional catering managers and safety officers. There have been no serious outbreaks of food poisoning in the last five years.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will invite environmental health officers to inspect prison kitchens.
§ Mr. MellorNo. However, the prison department has its own arrangements for the inspection of prison kitchens and these can include calling upon environmental health officers for advice.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will remove Crown immunity from food hygiene legislation for prison kitchens.
§ Mr. MellorNo.