MoJ: Pay should wait on prisoners' compact

The Ministry of Justice has blamed an ongoing government review for the delayed implementation of a prisoners' pay increase.

Prison minister David Hanson is putting forward proposals for a "new compact" for prisoners which is currently under review.

The deal is set to balance "the opportunities we give to offenders to turn away from a life of crime with what the community is going to expect of them in return", a spokesperson said, adding that ministers were in discussion with the Prison Service on the issue.

"That means meeting certain standards of behaviour while in prison and on release, for instance getting off and staying off drugs."