The Earl of Carlisleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What library facilities will be provided for young people who are in detention centres. [HL73]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)In accordance with Rule 22 of the Young Offender Rules 1988, a library is provided in every young offender institution and every young offender is allowed to have library books and to exchange them. Prison Service operating standards require governors to permit prisoners access to the library once a week for a minimum of 20 minutes. This facility is provided by local public library authorities for all prisons apart from those privately managed prisons which provide a library service directly.