§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what health services are available to young people(a) sentenced and (b) remanded in custody; what specialist mental health services are available to repeat young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [128784]
§ Mr. BoatengYoung people held in prison custody, whether on remand or sentenced, have access to a full range of primary and specialist healthcare services through the institution's healthcare centre. Prison doctors will arrange for any necessary specialist treatment to be provided either within the institution or as an in or out patient at an outside hospital, as appropriate.
Young offenders needing in-patient treatment for mental disorder may be transferred to psychiatric hospitals. The care and treatment of inmates who do not need to be admitted to hospital is generally undertaken by prison healthcare staff under the supervision of visiting NHS specialists. Part of the substantial programme of reform to prison healthcare now underway is aimed at extending inreach from community mental health teams into prison to improve standards of care for such prisoners.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what academic and vocational education and training is available to young people serving custodial sentences; and if he will make a statement. [128630]
§ Mr. BoatengEducation in Prison Service establishments is provided by education contractors. For all prisoners it focuses on a core curriculum of basic educational skills (literacy and numeracy), life and social skills, information technology and generic preparation for work. Prisoners of compulsory school age as defined in section 8 of the Education Act 1996 must be provided with at least 15 hours a week of education or training, plus five hours of physical education. For juveniles, life and social skills must include citizenship, sex and relationships education, and preparation for work. 299W Education contractors are expected to support students taking General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations by liaising with their previous school.
Education for prisoners over school leaving age is entirely voluntary. Prisoners aged between 17 and 21 should be offered at least two hours a week of physical education.
There is a wide range of accredited vocational training available in Young Offender Institutions. Areas covered includes construction industry training; engineering; motor vehicle maintenance; industrial cleaning; catering; office skills; information technology; and agriculture and horticulture.