§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the privatisation of HM prison farms. [54110]
§ Mr. George HowarthThere are no plans to privatise prison farms. However, a number of prisons are involved in Private Finance Initiative projects or partnership agreements.
In May 1997, the Prisons Board agreed to the recommendations of the Prison Service Agricultural Review team, which was commissioned to consider the need and size of prison agricultural activities. The implementation of these recommendations will result in agricultural land which is no longer required by the Prison Service being sold, and the phasing out of potato and pig production. Any staff employment places in these particular enterprises would be absorbed into other activities. Work is continuing with the monitoring of dairy herds and developing the role of vegetable distribution centres.
The review recommended continued involvement with private sector companies. The primary purpose of seeking such partnerships is to offer good value for money in providing prisoners with work, maximising current unrealised production and, more importantly, the injection of capital funds.
The largest current Private Finance Initiative project operating in the prison farms sector involves mushroom packaging at Kirkham prison. Discussions are taking place on establishing other such enterprises in a number of prisons.
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§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on livestock and produce grown and reared in prisons for sale on the open market. [54111]
§ Mr. George HowarthThere are a number of commercial sales generated from agricultural and horticultural activities in prisons. They are regarded as sources of income which can be offset against the cost of running the establishment from which the sales have been generated. Prison Service policy is that prices obtained should be in line with the local, and, where appropriate, national, price for a comparable product.