XN000022-1982-04-16 — Page 3

FRIDAY, APRIL 16. 19cc

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THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO AIM TO IMPROVE STANDARDS THROUGH TRAINING.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE AND THE NEW VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, HOW BEST TO MEET THE TRAINTE NEEDS OF EXISTING PRACTITIONERS WHO REQUIRED THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AND OF NEW ENTRANTS TO THE OPTICAL PROFESSION.

CHIEF SECRETARY VISITS PENAL INSTITUTIONS *****

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (FRIDAY) VISITED THE PIK UK PRISON AND PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION TO LOOK OVER THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK AND PROGRAMMES AT THE TWO INSTITUTIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, SIR PHILIP SAW THE ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED FOR INMATES, THE LAUNDRY, HOSPITALS, KITCHENS AND WORKSHOPS.

THE NEWLY-BUILT $31 MILLION LAUNDRY AT PIK UK PRISON, OPERATED BY A WORKING FORCE OF MORE THAN 90 PRISONERS, IS FIVE STOREYS HIGH AND IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING 5.5 MILLION KILOGRAMMES OF SOILED LINEN A YEAR FROM GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

SIR PHILIP WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS IN THE LAUNDRY BUILDING WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLDING, IRONING AND DESPATCHING SECTIONS LOCATED ON DIFFERENT FLOORS.

ONE OF THE FEATURES OF THE LAUNDRY IS THE USE OF AN EFFLUENT TREATMENT PLANT -- AN ANTI-POLLUTION DEVICE. DIRTY WATER FROM THE WASHING PROCESS IS KEPT IN A TANK WHERE IT IS FILTERED AND PURIFIED BEFORE DISPOSAL.

SIR PHILIP ALSO VISITED PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL MAXIMUM SECURITY PENAL INSTITUTION WITH FACILITIES FOR A RECEPTION CENTRE, A TRAINING CENTRE AND A PRISON FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.

ITS CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS INCLUDE A HALF-DAY OF EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND A HALF-DAY OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN ONE OF THE TRADES AVAILABLE, CONDUCTED BY QUALIFIED SCHOOLMASTERS AND INSTRUCTORS.

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