§ 10. Mr. Fitchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average number of hours worked per week by male persons in Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of Slate for the Home Department (Mr. Dennis Vosper)Over a recent period the average was 26 hours a week in local prisons, and 36½ hours a week in other prisons.
§ Mr. FitchWould not the Joint Undersecretary agree that a working week of 26 hours is hardly the right type of training for a man who, when discharged, will be expected to work a 45-hour week? What are his proposals to increase the number of hours worked in prisons? Does he not think that a hard day's work is a far more effective deterrent than birching?
§ Mr. VosperI could not agree more about the importance of work for rehabilitation in prison. For that reason, my right hon. Friend recently appointed an Advisory Council on Work in Prisons to try to help, and we are appointing local committees. I hope there will be an improvement.