Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Prison Service Instruction 44 of 2010, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of nutritional standards in prisons and correctional facilities.

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has issued food policy guidance and specification expectations that require all prisons to provide prisoners with the opportunity to select a meal of choice from a range of meals that are balanced, varied and reflects Government’s recommendation on eating a heathy diet.

The new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) food supply contract provides the opportunity for prisons to purchase fresh vegetables, salad crop and fruit. There is also a range of food commodities that are lower in salt, sugar and saturated fats. HMPPS regularly monitor and record meal provision against policy expectations.