Inmates are not taking advantage of prison programmes, the Senate heard on Friday.

Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Sen. Yvette Swan voiced her concern during Friday's Senate debate of the Health and Social Services Ministry.

Sen. Swan, who tabled the budget, said she was worried that inmates were not using the programmes open to them.

Various Westgate programmes like art, navigation, reading, math and co-ed classes like the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, woodwork and sewing have participation numbers in the single digits or low teens.

And Sen. Swan revealed that no one had signed up to take offered classes in introductory computers or tailoring.

"It is important that they utilise these programmes,'' she said. "They can upgrade their skills while inside so they can make a fresh start when they leave.'' The Prisons will receive a total of $12,939,000 this year -- accounting for 12 percent of the Health and Social Services' $107,177,000 budget for 1998/99.

Sen. Swan also told Senators that the ministry was the largest provider of programmes and services for the community, but it only generated $550,000 -- a decrease of nine percent from last year.

The Ministry encompasses six departments, including Child and Family Services, the hospitals and Financial Assistance.

During the debate, Sen. Swan made a plea for locals to come forward and become foster parents to adolescents and children with special needs.

Opposition Senate leader Milton Scott suggested that Child and Family Services run advertisements detailing what medical assistance and support was provided to foster parents.

"I think there are people out there willing to become foster parents,'' he said. "They just need to have a clear understanding of what they are getting themselves into.'' Sen. Scott also voiced his concerns about the probation department within Child and Family Services.

"I am concerned that the allocation to Probation Services is down,'' he said.

The department, which prepares sentencing reports for magistrates and judges and which kept an eye on the 109 people place on probation last year and the 90 individuals performing community services, will receive $702,000 -- a five percent decrease.

And Sen. Scott called on the Government to appoint a minister to the section.

"We need a minister as soon as possible,'' he said. "It is an important ministry. We shouldn't have someone on a haphazardly basis.'' The current Health Minister, Quinton Edness, is currently also the Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister.

Meanwhile, during discussions of the Island's two hospitals, both Sen. Swan and Sen. Scott agreed that the length of stay time at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital had to be reduced.

Sen. Swan urged locals to realise that they could not leave relatives at the hospital if they were well enough to go home.

Sen. Scott insisted that the country had to come to "grips'' with the escalating cost of health care. This year the hospitals will receive $60,143,000.

Sen. Scott estimated that the burden on taxpayers worked out to $1,000 per person -- and that did not include insurance premiums.

SEN. YVETTE SWAN -- Voiced her concerns.