UK inmates to learn trades like carpentry for prison maintenance, aiming to cut costs and provide skills.
This work would be part of their sentences, offering new skills while saving money. Lord Timpson said similar programs already help prisoners gain skills and help run the prisons.
He wants to expand these programs to more prisons that need some extra help. He mentioned the Q-Branch scheme, running in 25 sites, and hopes to expand it.
Lord Woodley criticized prison maintenance privatization, saying it has been a disaster. He wants to end contracts with private companies and proposes using prison labor for repairs.
Lord Timpson said prisons faced underinvestment, leading to a backlog of needed maintenance. Ending current contracts would cost more money, but they are reviewing options as contracts expire.
Timpson praised Q-Branch, stating it helps prisoners gain skills by doing jobs like painting and cell restoration. He is exploring ways to expand it, and CRED is another program to help prisoners find jobs.