INMATES at a Lancashire prison are missing out on valuable training programmes and being locked up for "substantial periods" a report has revealed.
Overall Garth Prison, Leyland, was praised as a "very sound establishment" which had shown a great deal of progress since the last visit by inspectors.
Of 59 recommendations from the last report, 40 had been wholly achieved and three partially.
But after an unannounced inspection, concern was expressed at the lack of purposeful activity.
The inspectorate also said that there were missed opportunities for NVQ training and too few offending programmes, which were crucial to Garth's purpose as a training prison.
Anne Owers, Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons, said: "This is overall a very positive report."
Martin Narey, director general of the prison service, added: "We are seeking ways to increase the amount of purposeful activity for prisoners."
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