Yes, BWL, Poundland got a free employee - so could sack another paid worker.

If the state is the "employer" so called "workfare" also displaces a paid employee.

What Dave H said on the 10th at 7 Mudcat time is spot on the money.

I imagine that TV for prisoners does enable them to keep up with the world so that they are less disadvantaged on release - as well as helping to keep them quiescent. So it's probably beneficial overall on balance.


Oh dear MG - you need to see what actually happens. Your rose-tinted version of "public service" is a fantasy.