Prison Farms (Hansard, 29 June 1995)

§ Mr. Cox
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prison farms in England and Wales. [59540]

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 29 June 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prison farms in England and Wales. There are 38 Prison Service establishments with major agricultural and horticultural enterprises. A further 24 establishments have smaller scale horticultural production units. All establishments have a ground maintenance enterprise.

§ Mr. Cox
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if prisons must purchase food and produce from prison farms from within their prison food budget expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [29559]

§ Mr. Forsyth
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 29 June 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prison farms. Prisons are required to spend 26 per cent of their daily food allowance on items supplied by prison farms.