§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what schemes of pre-release employment are currently in operation; where these schemes are taking place; whether any such schemes have been evaluated; what plans there are for the evaluation of schemes in the future; and whether he plans to undertake a full inquiry into the possibilities for pre-release employment as outlined by the Expenditure Committee in its report on prison pressures.
§ Mr. BrittanFor adult prisoners the pre-release employment scheme currently operates at Bristol, Exeter, Swansea, Pentonville, Wormwood Scrubs, Maidstone, Birmingham, Stafford, Nottingham, Wakefield, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Appleton Thorn and for women Askham Grange. Under the scheme, prisoners live in hostels, work for outside employers at normal industrial wages, and have to meet some statutory and domestic commitments in the same way as private citizens. Schemes based on similar principles are available to trainees from Hollesley Bay, Hewell Grange and Hindley borstals.
The schemes at the three borstals are being evaluated and it is planned to review the future of the scheme in adult establishments this year. The Home Office research unit has made a study of adult establishments over the period 1964–74.