A Bill tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday will allow prisoners to participate in training and educational programmes outside prison gates if it becomes law.

The amendment to the Prisons Amendment Act proposes that prisoners be released to engage in "training, educational or other programmes".

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said the current system only allowed prisoners to leave for compassionate reasons and for periods less than 24 hours.

This Bill proposes to limit the period of release to fourteen days, during which prisoners may be kept under the watch of prison officers.

Ms Cox would not answer detailed questions about the Bill, which is expected to be discussed by MPs in two weeks.