§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the board of visitors at Belmarsh prison, or from others, concerning the catering arrangements and the quality of food at Belmarsh; and what assessment he has made of the performance of the private caterers at Belmarsh.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI have received no representations about the catering arrangements and the quality of food at Belmarsh prison from the board of visitors. Complaints from prisoners about the food are common to all prisons, Belmarsh included. Action is always taken locally to investigate them and resolve any problems which are discovered.
The food on offer in Belmarsh is sampled twice daily by the governor. Catering services supplied by contract in Belmarsh are under constant scrutiny. If they are considered by the governor or by the prison service catering specialists not to be complying with their contract, action will be taken.