Hansard

Prisoners (Money)

Volume 82: debated on Monday 1 July 1985

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Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what moneys a prisoner on home leave is allowed to take with him; and what is the source of these moneys.

Payments from Public Funds

  • 1. Travelling Costs: the prisoner receives either a travel warrant or the cost of fares for the return journey.
  • 2. Subsistence: a subsistence allowance for the duration of the outward and return journey is paid in accordance with the following rates:
    • 2–5 hours£1·00
    5–10 hours£2·40
    10–16 hours£4·40
    16–24 hours£5·60
  • A packed meal may be provided for the outward journey. If so no allowance for the outward journey will be paid.
  • 3. Householder's Allowance: in cases where leave has been approved and the prisoner is to spend leave in the home of a householder who is known to lack the resources to keep the prisoner for the period of leave and is not receiving supplementary benefit from the DHSS, an allowance of £5·00 for short home leave or pre-parole leave or £10·00 for terminal home leave may be paid to the prisoner when proceeding on leave.
  • 4. Lodgings Allowance: where a prisoner has no suitable accommodation for his leave, arrangements may be made for the prisoner to stay at a suitable hostel or lodgings. If so, expenditure may be incurred to meet the cost of accommodation and meals. The maximum amounts which prison governors may authorise are £21·00 for short home leave or pre-parole leave and £41·00 for terminal home leave. Normally these payments would be made direct to the hostel or lodgings and the prisoner would not be given this money when he proceeds on leave.

    • B. Prisoners' Monies

  • 1. The maximum amount in earnings and private cash which a prisoner may take on leave is £20·00* for terminal home leave or £10·00* for short home leave.
  • 2. Additional sums of private cash may be sent home in advance of leave, subject to an annual limit of £95·00.
    • * (Includes a sum of £4·00 for terminal home leave and £2·00 for short home leave or pre-parole leave which the prisoner must have saved from earnings before being allowed to take leave. Where prisoners have already taken short home leave and are to take terminal home leave they must save £2·00 before leave may be taken.)

    Mr. Tony Lloyd

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what moneys a prisoner may bring back into prison after home leave; and what rules govern the bringing in of moneys at this time.

    Mr. Mellor

    There are no restrictions on the amount of money which a prisoner may bring back into prison after home leave. The money will be credited to his private cash account in the books of the prison in accordance with prison rule 41(3). Prisoners who have large sums of money in their cash account are encouraged to open accounts with the National Savings Bank or similar institutions.

    Mr. Tony Lloyd

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what wages a prisoner on home leave loses during this period or following his period of home leave.

    Mr. Mellor

    No wages are paid to adult prisoners during absence on home leave. On return from such leave it is normal practice for prisoners to re-join their work party and they therefore usually suffer no loss of earnings.