HC Deb 22 June 1988 vol 135 cc559-60W
Mr. Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of planned hours of education, and the numbers of actual hours of education for inmates at Bullwood Hall prison and youth custody centre in each week since 1 April; what is the reason for any discrepancy; and what plans there are to ensure that education classes at this establishment take place as planned.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

In the nine weeks following Easter, only 43 class sessions were made available to inmates out of a total of 125 sessions planned for the period. The establishment is in dispute with the Prison Officers Association regarding the level of prison officer cover for education classes and it is not possible to state when the matter will be resolved. The loss of educational facilities for inmates at Bullwood Hall is very much regretted.