HL Deb 06 April 2000 vol 611 c150WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the average number of hours available to prisoners for education in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 respectively; and what was the spending on education per head of the prison population in England and Wales in each of those years. [HL1763]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The available information is set out in the tables. Figures exclude spending on education materials and on libraries. The figures for 1999–2000 are to the end of February only and do not include any refunds of recoverable VAT, details of which are not at present available.

Education hours purchased

  • 1997 (calendar year): 1,117,214
  • 1998 (calendar year): 1,213,562
  • 1999–2000 (to end February): 1,354,165

Average cost per head of prison population

  • 1997–1998: £514.58
  • 1998–1999: £536.40
  • 1999–2000: £569.99