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Written question asked by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 9 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 October 2009. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 October 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prison Visitors: Expenditure

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on (a) the administration of and (b) expenditure by the Assisted Prison Visits Unit in each of the last three years; and whether those costs were included in the revenue costs of his Department.
Answer

The administration expenditure for the assisted prison visits unit (APVU) is as follows:

£
2006-07 697,000
2007-08 693,000
2008-09 710,000

The gross expenditure by the assisted prison visits unit for giving assistance to prisoners' visitors is as follows:

£
2006-07 1,941,000
2007-08 2,170,000
2008-09 2,171,000

The total expenditure for APVU has been included in the revenue costs of the Ministry of Justice for 2008-09 and 2007-08, and the Home Office for 2006-07.The assisted prison visits scheme provides help with travel and where appropriate accommodation expenses to prisoners' close relatives, partners or a friend (where they are the only visitor). In all cases the visitor must be in receipt of specified benefits or on a low income.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
497 c879-80W; 291887
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Expenditure Assisted Prison Visits Unit
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk