§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the(a) total hours of education study and (b) total teaching hours bought in the Prison Service in 1998; and what was the percentage change for each on the previous year. [84748]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe total number of taught student hours for 1998 was 9,483,889, an increase of 6.19 per cent. on the 1997 figure.
The total number of teaching hours purchased by the Prison Service in 1998 was 1,254,040, an increase of 7.69 per cent. on the 1997 figure.
In addition to this, just over £10 million per annum for the three years from 1 April 1999 has been allocated to enhance education provision. It will be used to deliver an additional 2,000,000 hours of basic and key skills education which will produce 17,000 accreditations.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage liaison between the Prison Education Service and the University for Industry. [85267]
§ Mr. George HowarthThere are very positive discussions currently taking place between the Prison Education Service and the University for Industry. It is the intention of the Prison Service to respond to the University for Industry's call for partners and apply to become a learning centre hub with local learning centres being developed in individual prisons in partnership with education providers.