Written question asked by Lord Beith (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 26 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 December 1998. It was answered by George Howarth (Labour) on Monday, 7 December 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions public funds have been used to pay the debts of (i) staff messes and (ii) staff clubs, in Prison Service establishments; and what was the total amount so spent in each of the last five years for which figures are available. - Including tables.

Answer: Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions public funds have been used to pay the debts of (i) staff messes and (ii) staff clubs, in Prison Service establishments; and what was the total amount so spent in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [61906] Mr. George Howarth: The Prison Service has only kept central records since 1 April 1995. Since then, records show that public funds have been used on two occasions to pay the debts of staff messes in Prison Service establishments. The sums involved were as follows: £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Amount 1995-96 23,898 1996-97 2,675 1997-98 nil _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Over the same period, public funds have bene used on four occasions to pay the debts of staff clubs in Prison Service establishments. The sums involved were as follows: £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Amount 1995-96 nil 1996-97 18,253 1997-98 35,717 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information