§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the educational and social opportunities provided in young offender institutions.
§ Mrs. RumboldThere are two categories of inmates in young offender institutions: juveniles between the age of 14 and 16 and young offenders up to the age of 21. Juveniles under the school leaving age receive a minimum of 15 hours education per week in academic subjects, life and social skills, leisure activities and work skills. Juveniles over the school leaving age are expected to participate in full-time education, though it is not compulsory. Where the inmate chooses not to participate, alternative constructive activities are provided. They should still receive part-time education averaging two hours per week.
Young offenders should also receive at least an average of two hours education per week, broadly covering the same areas as juveniles, though more flexibility may be exercised in giving greater emphasis on the provision of work-related training or remedial teaching where this would be valuable.
Regarding social opportunities, inmates are given the opportunity to mix with other inmates to preserve and encourage the proper use of leisure time and to relate to their peer group. At least an hour per day should normally be provided to allow inmates to participate in a choice of activities such as table tennis, billiards, board games, as well as the chance to watch television. Inmates are also encouraged to use the library facilities.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to remove teenagers completely from the prison system.
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§ Mr. John PattenI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to a question from him on 26 November at column444. We have no plans further to restrict courts' powers to commit young people to custody.