HC Deb 17 July 1989 vol 157 cc76-8W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what crops are at present being grown at each prison farm in England and Wales.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Crops are grown at 28 prison farms in England and Wales, and make a major contribution to the dietary needs of the prison system. The main crops grown are:

  1. (1) Potatoes
  2. (2) Brassicas
  3. (3) Onions, leeks, shallots
  4. (4) Swedes, turnips
  5. (5) Carrots
  6. (6) Beetroot
  7. (7) Lettuce
  8. (8) Others (tomatoes, cucumber, peppers)

The allocation between farms for the current year is:

Prison to which farm attached Crop type
Camp Hill 8
Channings Wood 7, 8
East Sutton Park 3, 7, 8
Everthorpe 1, 2, 3, 5
Featherstone 1, 2
Ford 2, 3, 7, 8
Grendon 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
Guys Marsh 2, 3, 7
Hatfield 1, 2, 6
Haverigg 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
Hewell Grange 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
Hollesley Bay 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Huntercombe 3, 6
Kirkham 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Leyhill 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
Lindholme 1, 2, 4, 5, 8
Lowdham 1, 2, 4
Northallerton 2, 4, 6, 8
North Sea Camp 1, 2, 3, 7, 8
Onley 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8
Oxford 1, 2, 5

Prison to which farm attached Crop type
Portland 4
Standford Hill 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
Swinfen Hall 1, 5
Usk 1, 2
Verne 1
Werrington 2, 3, 7
Wymott 2, 3

In addition, a number of other prison establishments have small areas of -cropping, often in polythene tunnels or greenhouses, to make use of available land or inmate labour resources. Crops tend to be of market garden or salad varieties, for local use.

Non-dietary crops are currently being grown at six of the farms referred to—Featherstone, Gartree, Hatfield, Lindholme, Lowdham and North Sea Camp—as part of normal crop rotation. The produce (generally cereals) is used in animal feed.

Forage crops are grown at 18 farms to support the prison department's dairy herds.

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