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'Make prisoners pay' for lodgings 'Make prisoners pay' for lodgings
(about 6 hours later)
A government minister has said she will look at an MP's call for wealthy criminals to pay towards the "huge cost" of keeping them in prison.A government minister has said she will look at an MP's call for wealthy criminals to pay towards the "huge cost" of keeping them in prison.
Conservative MP Mark Pritchard suggested the idea in the Commons.Conservative MP Mark Pritchard suggested the idea in the Commons.
He said that at a time of hardship for pensioners and others, criminals should be made to pay towards the costs of "feeding, housing and guarding" them.He said that at a time of hardship for pensioners and others, criminals should be made to pay towards the costs of "feeding, housing and guarding" them.
Solicitor General Vera Baird called it a "very interesting point" and said she would "dwell on it over Easter".Solicitor General Vera Baird called it a "very interesting point" and said she would "dwell on it over Easter".
Recent figures put the England and Wales prison population at 82,586.Recent figures put the England and Wales prison population at 82,586.
In the Commons, Mr Pritchard, MP for the Wrekin, Shropshire, said: "For every crime committed, all of society suffers, in particular the huge cost of feeding, housing and guarding criminals.In the Commons, Mr Pritchard, MP for the Wrekin, Shropshire, said: "For every crime committed, all of society suffers, in particular the huge cost of feeding, housing and guarding criminals.
"Would you consider reviewing existing legislation to ensure wealthier criminals actually pay for their time in prison?""Would you consider reviewing existing legislation to ensure wealthier criminals actually pay for their time in prison?"
Amid some laughter, Ms Baird replied: "It's a very interesting point and I shall spend a lot of time dwelling on it over Easter."Amid some laughter, Ms Baird replied: "It's a very interesting point and I shall spend a lot of time dwelling on it over Easter."
But she added that the issue was not her departmental responsibility.But she added that the issue was not her departmental responsibility.
Mr Pritchard said later: "This is not a 'pay-if-you-go' scheme but a 'pay-if-you-stay' scheme.
"Perhaps if more criminals, who could pay, did pay, then the added deterrent might reduce re-offending rates and reduce the burden on hard-pressed taxpayers."
He added that there needed to be a review of how society paid for justice to "improve the link between the criminal and the overall costs of their crimes".