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Home Office

Answer

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per day the (a) 16 to 18-year-old and (b) over 18-year-old prisoners at Feltham receive (i) compulsory education, (ii) extra-curricular education, (iii) sport and (iv) general exercise; and if he will make a statement. [67311] Hilary Benn: Education is only compulsory for those under school leaving age; they receive 15 hours of education per week at Feltham in five, three-hour sessions. Anyone over this age cannot be ordered to undertake education, as it is not classified as work. On extra-curricular education, there are currently no evening classes at Feltham. It is hoped that the prison's local recruitment campaign will deliver sufficient staff to make this possible. With regard to participation in sporting activities, juveniles (under 18s) are currently receiving an average of 4.9 hours of physical education (PE) a week. Young offenders are currently receiving an average of 5.4 hours per week. However, attendance at PE is voluntary. For general exercise, all prisoners receive a daily minimum of 30 minutes of time in the open air. Those in segregation receive one hour a day, weather permitting.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

67311; 389 c1079W;389 c1077W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Education Prisoners Young offenders Sports Exercise HMP/YOI Feltham

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk