Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the food budget was per-prisoner per day in each year since 2015 in private sector prisons.

In the majority of privately managed prison contracts, food budgets are not separated out from other contract costs. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) does not hold this information and it would not be possible to identify the food budget without disproportionate cost.

Nevertheless, all Establishments are required to ensure prisoners receive three nutritionally balanced meals a day as set out in Prison Service Instruction 44/2010 Catering - Meals for Prisoners. These must meet the religious, cultural and medical needs of all prisoners.