HC Deb 30 November 1998 vol 321 cc76-7W
27. Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proportion of Prison Service expenditure derived from the Prison Service's trading activities. [61117]

Mr. George Howarth

Although the Prison Service is not set up as a trading organisation, it does derive income from commercial activities. Gross expenditure by the Prison Service in 1997–98 was £1,760.9 million.

This expenditure was offset by receipts of £23.3 million in the classes authorised for use as appropriations in aid, of which £8.4 million were from sales of capital assets. £7.7 million (33 per cent. of all receipts; 52 per cent. of current receipts) of those receipts arose from external sales from prison industries and farms.