Information is not held centrally on the amount spent on procuring furniture before the financial year 2007-08. Available data were therefore related to the financial year 2007-08 only, when the total expenditure was £3,214,944. This was made up of:
£ Ministry of Justice headquarters 235,398 HM Court Service 2,166,667 Tribunal Service 162,879 HM Prison Service 650,000
Details for the financial year 2008-09 will be available shortly.
Information about the expenditure of the National Probation Service is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by contacting 43 probation boards and trusts.
The Prison Service seeks to manufacture furniture in house by using prisoners. This has resulted in expenditure on outsourced furniture decreasing as internal production has expanded. Expenditure for the financial year 2006-07 was £761.229, resulting in a decrease of £111,229 in 2007-08. The Prison Service aims to occupy prisoners in out of cell activity and wherever possible to help them gain skills, qualifications and work experience to improve their employment prospects upon release.