No new rehabilitation programmes have been introduced in Bermuda prisons for more than a year, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox told MPs yesterday.

But Ms Cox added that -- following a review of the Island's penal system by UK experts -- Government now had a blueprint to improve programmes available to prisoners.

She told MPs: "The inspector concluded that some of the existing rehabilitation programmes, and particularly vocational and trade training, suffered from a lack of adequate resources.

"Following receipt of the inspector's report and after consultation with the Commissioner of Prisons, we now have a platform for action which will enable us to provide the structure and resources necessary to enhance and improve rehabilitation programmes.

"It follows that the Government has not introduced any new programmes since November, 1998, because we lack adequate resources to staff them. In the meantime, a number of issues are well underway.'' But she said a Halfway House was to be built for prisoners training for freedom, while two programmes were being set up to help prisoners with learning difficulties -- especially reading problems.

And she added that previous Government programmes, particularly trade and vocational classes, had been cut down during the summer -- but that the current Government planned to offer a full programme throughout the year.

Ms Cox was speaking after Opposition Whip Cole Simons tabled a series of questions on the state of prison reform.

Mr. Simons also asked if psychiatric counselling and rehabilitation programmes were compulsory for inmates -- and if new programmes to crack down on drugs behind bars were underway.

Ms Cox said: "We've had -- on a sporadic basis -- Police and the Prison Service teaming up on a random basis and the use of ion scans to detect drugs.'' Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Kim Young asked if anything was done to encourage prisoners to attend training programmes and rehabilitation.

Ms Cox said that attendance at courses was taken into account for parole and work release.

She said: "Clearly, there is already an inherent incentive for prisoners to participate in rehabilitation programmes.'' And she added: "There are things in the inspector's report where we can further highlight this incentive.'' Ms Cox said that -- if a prisoner was found to be using drugs -- a "curtailment of privileges'' would take place.

Ms Cox said that counselling and rehab were not compulsory for all inmates -- because most did not require psychiatric help, while no-one was forced into rehabilitation.

She said: "Quite apart from the obvious practical difficulties associated with forcing an inmate to take part in programmes, the ethos which underpins rehabilitation in our prisons is to encourage inmates to take responsibility for their own lives by recognising the importance of voluntarily taking part in programmes designed to change the behaviour which brought them to prison.'' And Ms Cox added: "There is, however, some powerful inducement for inmates to take part in rehabilitation programmes in that the Treatment of Offenders Board invariably links recommendations for early release and release on licence with the successful attendance on the various psychological, vocational and educational programmes recommended in an inmates case plan.'' Mr. Simons also asked if prisoners who showed a willingness to change were separated from hardcore criminals.

Ms Cox said that churches and other groups supported prisoners on the outside, while inside, long-term prisoners and prisoners on rehab classes were treated differently.

She added: "They may find themselves taken down to the prison farm -- there are rewards which attract such behaviour and that's how they're seen to be given a preferred status.'' Platform for action: Paula Cox