Asked by: Lord Colgrain (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to reintroducing prison farms with a view to the mental wellbeing of prisoners.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
HM Prison and Probation Service continues to operate five working farms which provide employment, skills, and produce for the internal market. Over 70 prisons offer horticultural training opportunities, which assist prisoners with gaining sector-specific skills and experiences.
We also recognise the value of farms, horticultural and land-based activity for improving wellbeing and addressing poor mental health. We continue to develop a range of opportunities for accessing farms and gardens to learn new positive skills, including growing food and environmental improvement.