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Less than one in five inmates participates in work schemes in jail, says National Party law and order spokesman Simon Power.
The percentage is now 19 per cent, down from 23 per cent in 2005 and 26 per cent in 2004, he said, citing Department of Corrections figures.
Mr Power said it was an indictment on the Government that 81 per cent of prisoners did nothing while in jail.
A spokesman for Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor said about 40 per cent of prisoners were engaged in work at any one time.
