VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Prisons: Sports

Asked by Neil Duncan-JordanLabourMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 12 June 2025UIN 58502

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate her Department has made of the amount spent on providing (a) football, (b) pool, (c) table-tennis, (d) gym, (e) running, (f) yoga, (g) chess and (h) other sporting activities in prisons in the last year.

Answered by Sir Nicholas Dakin

H M Prison and Probation Service recognises the importance physical activity plays in the overall well-being of prisoners and the effect sport, exercise and movement can have on supporting other programmes designed to reduce offending behaviour.

Data on the amount spent in providing the activities specified are not held centrally, and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim