HC Deb 14 October 1975 vol 897 cc675-6W
Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of maintaining foreign and Commonwealth nationals as prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons during the last 12 months.

Dr. Summerskill

It is not possible to isolate the cost of maintaining these particular prisoners. Over the prison system as a whole we estimate that the average cost of maintaining one inmate during the last financial year was about £62 per week.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he proposes to take to reduce the prison population.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 3rd July to a Question by the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Irving).—[Vol. 894, c.537.]

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he sent to the Probation Officers' Association following its suggestions made in August 1975 for reducing the prison population.

Dr. Summerskill

I am sending a copy to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the provision of extramural courses for prisoners wishing to pursue studies at local universities in their areas.

Dr. Summerskill

University courses are frequently arranged for prisoners, and Open University facilities are available in 11 establishments. Because of security considerations it would be impractical to release more than a few carefully selected prisoners to attend courses at universities.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount spent weekly on outside bought food and prison farm food, respectively, for each prisoner at Brixton Prison.

Dr. Summerskill

The amount spent weekly on food in the financial year 1974–75 at Brixton Prison was approximately £2.60 including food to the estimated value of £0.50 supplied from the Department's own farms. These figures reflect the competitive prices available under centrally arranged contracts and the economic production within the prison system of items such as vegetables.

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