§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison establishments have achieved 12 hours unlocking; what activities have been provided for the prisoners; and what are the implications for staff and inmate safety.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 6 February 1995:
Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisons which are unlocking prisoners for more than 12 hours on weekdays, the types of activities provided for inmates and the implications for staff and inmate safety.On 31 December 1994, 60 prisoners were unlocking prisoners for at least 12 hours on weekdays. In December 1994, prisoners were spending on average 26.5 hours per week engaged in purposeful activities broken down as follows:
Activity Percentage time spent Work domestic 19 workshops 14 kitchens 9 farms and gardens 4 other work 4 Education and Training 20 Other PE 9 induction 3 chaplaincy 2 other structured activities 16 109W
Prison Governors are required to ensure that prisoners are engaged in active and demanding regimes which are relevant to their needs and to the reasons they are in prison. Such regimes have an important part to play in maintaining a stable prison system.