Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the nutritional adequacy of meals served to the prison population; and if he will make a statement.

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has responsibility for providing instructions to all prisons on the provision of meals for prisoners. The most recent guidelines are published at

http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi-2010/psi-2010-44-catering.doc.

NOMS recognises the importance of a balanced diet through regular meals and the major contribution this makes to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of prisoners.