Criminals doing porridge in Scotland’s prisons will be treated to traditional roast meals this Christmas – at a price of less than £3 a head.
Details emerged of festive feasts being served to inmates at jails across the country.
The Scottish Prison Service said it was spending around £2.50 per prisoner this year, a slight raise from last year’s total, with an average of £2.82 spent on young offenders.
Bosses have stressed that the meals are an important part of the prisoners’ rehabilitation and they don’t cost the taxpayer any extra.
In the past, the menus have been criticised for being too much of a treat for people serving time behind bars.
But the SPS has won for not going overboard on this year’s meals.
At HMP Perth, all 678 prisoners will wake on Friday morning to a breakfast of just cereal and a roll.
But they will also get a brunch of a 2oz burger, square sausage, black pudding, potato scone and spaghetti hoops.
For tea, staff have organised roast turkey with stuffing, gravy, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts and carrots.
And for vegetarians, there is an alternative of vegetable Kiev.
For dessert, inmates will get Christmas pudding with “festive sauce” and at bedtimes, a snack pack with Satsuma, Pot Noodle and Mars bar.
At Castle Huntly, the day begins for its 300-strong population with a branch of milk, cereal, orange juice and a choice of sausage, black pudding, egg, beans and potato scones. Halal Lorne is also available, as is Quorn Sausage and vegetable burger.
For lunch, inmates get a serving of soup and a choice of chicken Balmoral with all the trimmings or mushroom Brie and hazelnut and cranberry wellington or Halal curry.
There will also be servings of Brussel Sprouts, roast potatoes and farmhouse vegetable, followed by Christmas pudding with cream and fresh fruit.
Castle Huntly’s evening bag consists of a sausage roll, crisps, mincemeat pie, Satsuma, Mars bar and Pot Noodle washed down with a can of Coke.
Lunch at HMP Glenochil includes roast chicken not turkey with sprouts, baby carrots and roast potatoes or a vegetable nut roast slice.