§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of the(a) female and (b) male prison population who are dyslexic in each of the past 10 years. [60946]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Prison Service does not currently undertake separate screening tests for dyslexia so the information requested is not available. However, dyslexia screening on induction for prisoners in the dispersal estate is to be introduced from 1 January 1999. In addition, the Prison Service is looking at a number of options to identify dyslexia needs among prisoners and will issue guidance on screening tests to providers of prison education when the research which it has commissioned is complete, at the end of February 1999.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's estimate of the number of current young offenders who are dyslexic; and what estimate he has made of the number in each of the last five years. [60947]
§ Mr. BoatengNo information is available about the number of young offenders who are dyslexic. However, results from Prison Service skills screening tests for literacy and numeracy amongst prisoners in general suggest that 60 per cent. have poor literacy and communication skills and 75 per cent. have poor numeracy skills.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialist help is available to dyslexic prisoners by the Prisons Education Department; and if he will make a statement. [60948]
§ Mr. George HowarthAll education departments in prisons try to identify the individual learning needs of prisoners. Where there is an indication that there are84W dyslexia needs, specialist advice and guidance is sought and appropriate learning can be made available. Specialist advice is sought from the British Dyslexia Association which provides a full diagnostic assessment, or, within some education departments, from teachers who have undertaken specialist training leading to nationally recognised accreditation.