THE British government, working with Penal Reform International, has started giving food to thousands of starving prisoners in Malawi’s 23 jails, a British embassy official said on Wednesday. Marylyn Bennet said Britain is helping with plans to establish prison farms to ensure a sustainable food supply in jails. Serious food shortages have been blamed on inadequate funding. The Malawi government spends a total of $17000 a month on the 23 prisons.