§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider increasing the number of towels issued weekly to prisoners.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe range of items issued to inmates is subject to regular review. The number of towels currently issued each week is normally two but, because of a high incidence of vandalism, it is necessary to issue some 400,000 towels each year to meet the needs of the 45,000 inmates held in custody; this restricts the capacity of the prison service to increase the level of issue for individual prisoners. However, in an effort to improve the efficiency and acceptability of the item, the existing white towel is in the process of being replaced by one of larger size in deep-dyed colours.