§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the quality and service of prison food. [17719]
§ Ms QuinThe Prison Service has introduced a number of changes to improve catering procedures, including increased flexibility for caterers to provide food suited to the needs of prisoners, and greater choice and reduced waste, for example through the use of pre-select menus.
A recent National Audit Office report (published on 7 November 1997) acknowledged these improvements and confirmed that prison caterers do well in difficult conditions. The report also identified a number of areas where further improvement is desirable, and the Prison Service is currently considering its recommendations.