Asked by: Lord Verjee (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what future plans they have to support prison initiatives such as The Clink restaurants that provide a programme to increase the qualifications and communication skills of prisoners when working with members of the public.
Answered by Lord Faulks
There are a number of iniatives, including The Clink restaurants, which are available to help prisoners prepare for working with the public. These include work with retailers Timpsons, Max Spielman and Halfords who are able to offer work opportunities in prison and on release. There are also a number of locally run initiatives such as cafes and shops across the prison estate. In addition Customer Services skills and qualifications are available as part of the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) in prisons.
The National Offender Management Service is working with the Clink charity to open another training restaurant in the New Year at HM Prison Styal, a prison for women. We are always keen to explore innovative ways of working to give prisoners real work experience.