§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prison meals are served on a daily basis; and what percentage are special diet meals;
(2) what consultation takes place where prisons provide special meals for ethnic minorities, vegetarians and vegans to ensure that such foodstuffs are palatable, nutritious, balanced and that menus are not repetitive and unsustaining;
(3) what percentage of prisons accommodate special diets for ethnic minorities; and how many meals are served on a daily basis;
(4) what percentage of prisons provide meals for vegans; and how many such meals are prepared daily;
(5) what percentage of prisons provide meals for vegetarians; and how many such meals are prepared daily.
§ Mr. MellorDetails of inmates in minority groups and their location are not recorded centrally. In total about 146,000 meals are served daily to inmates in prison service establishments in England and Wales, of which about 26,000 (18 per cent.) are estimated to be variations from the normal dietary.
All meals are prepared according to centrally determined dietary scales designed to meet published nutritional standards which accommodate recognised food preferences.
Each establishment prepares special meals to meet the needs of its current population, and also varies its standard menus to take into account known preferences. The number of meals served to certain minority groups is estimated as follows: 265W
- 8,500 for a variety of ethnic minorities.
- 1,200 for vegans.
- 15,000 for vegetarians.
- 1,500 for inmates requiring a modified diet under prescription from a medical officer.