Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average daily cost of food per prisoner was in each prison in England and Wales in the last 12 months.

This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Food budgets for public sector prisons are determined locally and kept under review as part of normal budget allocation planning.

Prison Rules require that prisoners are provided with three meals a day that are varied and nutritious and that meet the religious, cultural and medical needs of all. HMPPS will continue to work closely with the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, following government guidelines on eating healthy meals.