§ Sir Robert SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of purposeful activity per week undertaken by prisoners, broken down into(a) education, (b) training, (c) work and (d) rehabilitation programmes in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [68545]
§ Mr. McLeishThe information requested is not available centrally in the detail sought. Figures for the number of prisoners engaged in work are recorded and provided in the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts. The numbers involved in vocational training are collected separately. The figures are shown in the table:
Year Average daily number of convicted prisoners employed Percentage of prisoners employed involved in training 1993–94 4,146 12.5 1994–95 4,094 12.0 1995–96 3,982 11.3 1996–97 4,001 13.8 1997–98 3,932 10.1 Targets for participation in rehabilitation programmes were first set for the Scottish Prison Service in 1996. In 1996–97, 381 prisoners completed cognitive skills programmes and 67 completed sex offender programmes. In 1997–98, 635 prisoners completed cognitive skills programmes and 91 completed sex offender programmes.
The Scottish Prison Service is developing a computerised management information system for regime activity to support continuous improvement in prisoner programmes and other opportunities. From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.