§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mentoring services are available to(a) children and (b) adults in prisons in England and Wales. [37792]
§ Beverley HughesThe main mentoring service available to prisoners aged 18 and over is the "Listener" scheme, which operates in 112 prisons in England and1394W Wales. The Samaritans train selected prisoners to offer help and support to prisoners who are feeling distressed, providing a "listening ear" to their peers from someone who understands the situation they are in. Listeners are available 24 hours a day to any prisoner who requests to see one, anywhere in the prison.
The Prison Service is working with the Youth Justice Board, the Samaritans, and other voluntary organisations to establish and develop appropriate mentoring arrangements for juveniles in custody. The Young Men's Christian Association already offers support to juveniles in three establishments.
Other mentoring schemes operate locally and many are linked to drug rehabilitation programmes. Such programmes use 'graduates' to provide peer support for those currently working through the course. These mentors often run support groups as well as providing one to one help.
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average distance from home is for(a) adult male prisoners, (b) women prisoners and (c) juvenile prisoners. [37793]
§ Beverley HughesThe latest figures, as at 30 September 2001, are set out in the table.
Miles Population Group Average distance from home1 Adult male prisoners 18 to 20-year-olds 49 Over 20-year-olds 53 Women prisoners (all ages) 66 Juvenile prisoners (males and females) 53 1 Where a home address is not recorded a prisoner's committal court town has been used in the average distance from home calculation. Evidence suggests that in most cases the court and home towns are the same.