Prison Education

HC Deb 15 March 1984 vol 56 cc492-3

4. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek discussions with the Open University as to how prison education might be extended to more people while in custody; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. David Waddington)

The general question of access to prison education facilities is not a matter for the Open University. But the prison department keeps in close touch with it on the part it plays in the provision of undergraduate and associate student facilities for prisoners and young offenders.

Mr. Madel

As the Open University can offer some very good courses for prisoners, and as the Northern Ireland Office and DHSS partly fund these and the tutorial costs, will the Home Office consider helping with the tutorial costs so that more prisoners might benefit from what the Open University has to offer?

Mr. Waddington

The Home Office already funds undergraduate and associate student facilities in 27 prison department establishments. It is considering with the Open University the possibility of extending these facilities to more establishments.

Mr. Flannery

Is the Minister aware that there was an inquiry into prison education by the last Select Committee on Education, and that one of the things that stood out clearly was that the very long queue of prisoners wanting education—even lifers—cannot be satisfied because of the cuts in education in the prisons? Will he do something to help? Will he look at some of the details of that report?

Mr. Waddington

I have read the report. However, I think the hon. Gentleman will concede that a prison building programme, an increase in the number of prison officers and improved management of the prison service are more likely than anything else to enable more opportunities for study to be made available.

Mr. Greenway

Does my hon. and learned Friend accept that I feel that his Department has made some progress in responding to the Select Committee's report on prison education, but not enough? Will he re-read the report with a view to considering whether the time has not come to give all prisoners the right of access to education? Will he put education in prisons on the same level as work and pay prisoners a suitable wage for it?

Mr. Waddington

I shall bear in mind all that my hon. Friend said. I am sure he will acknowledge that if there is a shortage of space in prisons, that in itself makes it difficult to provide the comprehensive facilities that we all wish to see. Therefore, I am surely right to say that the prison building programme on which we have embarked is of the greatest importance.

Mr. Alex Carlile

Is the Minister aware that while well over one third of prison staff in some prisons are being used on escort duties every day there is not the remotest prospect of proper education facilities being provided in those prisons because of the lack of adequate staff on site?

Mr. Waddington

I said earlier that I attach importance to the prison building programme and to the increase in the number of prison officers. The hon. Gentleman is right in saying that much prison officer time is taken up with escort duties. However, it is not easy to find a solution to that one.