Thread: Birmingham jail inmates given unemployment pay

Mar 7 2010 by Ben Goldby, Sunday Mercury
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PRISONERS at tough Midland jails are receiving unemployment pay, the Sunday Mercury can reveal.
Crooks unable to graft because workshops are full are being given taxpayer cash to lounge around watching TV, or to relax in their cells.
Hardened cons including murderers and rapists at HMP Long Lartin, Worcestershire, and Birmingham’s Winson Green are even able to claim sick pay when ill.
The controversial unemployment benefit scheme came to light after a prisoner asked an inmate’s magazine, Inside Time, how much he could claim.
He wrote: “If someone is employed in a workshop and is therefore fully employed, does the prison have to pay you if they don’t require you to work because the workshop is full and it is not the prisoner’s fault?
“Surely it’s not fair if they pay you the minimum rate for something that isn’t your fault?”
The Prison Service wrote back to the inmate, stating: “If a prisoner is willing to work but no work is currently available, then they will receive unemployment pay of £2.50 per week.’’
Last night, a Ministry of Justice spokeswoman confirmed that more than 80,000 prisoners across the country are eligible for the unemployment hand-outs, but claimed the payments help to prepare lags for release.
She said: “Under prison rules convicted prisoners are required to work. Those who refuse do not receive any pay “It is Prison Service policy that those who participate in work and training should receive a token payment.
“This encourages constructive participation in the prison regime and prepares offenders for lawful employment and lives away from crime after release.
“Prisoners who are willing to work but are unable to do so because no work is available receive a small unemployment payment of about £2.50 per week.
“Prisoners on short-term sick leave will receive a weekly minimum payment of £2.50 per week, while those on long-term sick or retirement age receive £3.25 per week.”
But the unemployment payments were blasted as “unbelievable” by Fiona McEvoy, West Midlands spokeswoman for the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
“This is hugely offensive to taxpayers and those who are genuinely unemployed through no fault of their own,” she said.
“It’s quite unbelievable that criminals who are already supported with public money are entitled to extra cash.
“If the system is so easy to exploit then it’s obviously very flawed.
“It’s just a shame that while ordinary, law-abiding, families are struggling to make ends meet, they’re also having to shell out pocket money for prison inmates.”
In July 2008 the Sunday Mercury revealed that prisoners receive holiday cash for not working on Bank Holidays and during religious festivals.
Inmates are also entitled to take time off from their prison jobs for personal visits – while still getting full wages.
Violent thugs who misbehave and end up in solitary confinement are entitled to any lost wages, if later found not guilty of the offence that landed them in solitary.
Shadow Justice Minister Nick Herbert condemned the pay scheme saying: “Prisoners shouldn’t get a handout for doing nothing. Birmingham jail inmates given unemployment pay - Sunday Mercury

2.50 a week ?

its how they buy a few items and i am told it helps to stop bullying.
£2.50 per week is the least of UK taxpayers problems.

Quite.

Authorities should focus on the housing benefit carousel run by Indians where there are hundreds of folks living in each others houses on housing benefit whilst the government pays the mortgages.

Yes rumour has it that there is a short shift system in operation for the usual three beds found in the average terrace house and the beds are never allowed to go cold.

^ yes - I heard , *gasp* , that they were even sleeping together

Originally Posted by Spin

Authorities should focus on the housing benefit carousel run by Indians where there are hundreds of folks living in each others houses on housing benefit whilst the government pays the mortgages.

In Brum? Happens elsewhere, irrespective of nationality.