Written questions

Prisoners: Unpaid Work

Lords · Question HL8884 · Tabled 25 Jun 2025 · Ministry of Justice · Official record

Answered 1 Jul 2025

Question

Asked by Lord Wigley

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that prisoners who do unpaid work do not undertake work for profit-making businesses that would otherwise be remunerated.

Answer

Answered by Lord Timpson, 1 Jul 2025

While there is not anything called ‘unpaid work’ in prisons, convicted prisoners are expected to work and there are various jobs across prison workshops, kitchens, laundries and other services like wing cleaning for which prisoners are paid. Prisoners are...