§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on recent progress in the development of work in prisons.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsProgress is being made in improving the organisation of prison industries in England and Wales and applying modern managerial techniques. This is leading to better quality work, improved manufacturing methods, more training and experience for prisoners in up-to-date processes, and better pay based on the higher value of the products. But much remains to be done. The recent sharp rise in the prison population has in particular caused a setback in local prisons which were already overcrowded and short of staff. In these prisons, working hours are still too low, and inadequate workshop space hinders the introduction of better quality and more highly mechanised work; improved recruitment and more efficient deployment of staff are however leading to a gradual increase in working hours, and vigorous efforts are being made to provide more workshop space.
28W
§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of prison work is of a constructive nature which could provide training for employment after release.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsIn England and Wales, nearly two-thirds of the prisoners who were available for work were employed last year on manufacturing and farm work and craft training. The remainder were employed on building, maintenance and other domestic work. A small proportion of the manufacturing work and much of the routine domestic work was of poor quality; but the rest of the work provided at least reasonably good training, and some of it was of a high standard.