§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the availability of(a) work and (b) courses in building trades in HM prisons. [8612]
§ Beverley HughesAround 800 prisoners at any time are employed by prison works departments on minor maintenance work in establishments. Around 1,100 prisoners at any time are engaged in construction industry training courses across 69 establishments running 134 courses. These cover painting and decorating, bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and other building trades. The Prison Service is seeking through this and other work and training activity to increase the proportion of prisoners able to gain employment on release.