§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time out of cell was for prisoners in 2000–01. [4846]
§ Beverley HughesThe average weekday time out of cell for prisoners during the year 2000–01 was 10 hours.
§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of(a) the adequacy and (b) the equal availability of education and training facilities for inmates in Her Majesty's prisons. [6204]
§ Beverley HughesThe Government have put additional resources into education and training in prisons. Direct expenditure on education and library provision alone currently stands at over £55 million for all prisoners including juveniles, and is set to increase to around £70 million by 2003–04. The Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit, based at the Department for Education and Skills, has been established to advise on how to fulfil the Government's policy to bring about dramatic improvements in the quality and quantity of prison education and training. It will be looking, among other things, at how to ensure equality of access to high-quality provision across the prison estate.