asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the actual or estimated weekly costs of keeping a prisoner in prison on Monday 22 January and the top wage of the lowest paid worker for which he has responsibility.

The actual cost of running the prison service on 22 January is not readily available. It is estimated that during the current financial year the average weekly cost of keeping a person in custody will be about £112. The lowest paid worker for whom my right hon. Friend has responsibility is a non-industrial cleaner earning £42·71 a week.