§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to his Department in the last full year, and to date, of paying hotel and travel expenses for the wives and families of inmates of Her Majesty's prisons to visit them in prison; and if he will estimate the number of people involved.
§ Mr. HurdThe provisional figure for payments made under the assisted visits scheme for the year 1983–84 is £637,793. The provisional figure for expenditure in the first quarter of 1984–85 is £169,437. We are advised by the Department of Health and Social Security, which administers the scheme on behalf of the Home Office, that the number of Giro transactions and travel warrants issued is recorded, but not the number of persons involved.