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<p /> <p>Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours
per prisoner per week that prisoners spent in purposeful activity.</p><p> </p><p>Figures
for the three years to 2011-12 are set out in the table below.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Average
hours of purposeful activity per prisoner per week</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>2011-12</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Male</p></td><td><p>24.3</p></td><td><p>24.6</p></td><td><p>24.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Female</p></td><td><p>27.1</p></td><td><p>27.3</p></td><td><p>26.3</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with
any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and
processing.</p><p> </p><p>Purposeful activity was discontinued as a performance indicator
for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management
of prisons. Figures on the above basis for subsequent periods and for the proportion
of male and female prisoners in purposeful activity could be obtained only at disproportionate
cost.</p><p> </p><p>Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation,
resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare
prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>Too many prisoners have
been passing their time in a state of idleness, and that is why under our reforms
to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework, which came into
effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013, prisoners are now expected to engage in
purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation,
reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn
privileges.</p><p> </p><p>Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are
engaged in real work whilst they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity
to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment
on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>The number of prisoners
working in industrial activity reported by public sector prisons increased from around
8,600 in 2010-11 to around 9,900 in 2013-14. This delivered an increase in the total
hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 14.2 million hours,
as published in the National Offender Management Service Annual Report 2013-14: Management
Information Addendum: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics-201314"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics-201314</a>.</p>
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