HC Deb 05 December 2002 vol 395 cc976-8W
Mrs. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to ensure that where prisoners are enrolled in a course offering(a) education and (b) basic skills training, such prisoners are not moved to a different prison before completion of their course. [84249]

Hilary Benn

The Prison Service tries to ensure prisoners complete education courses and minimise any disruption to family life. Establishments are advised to place the necessary 'holds' on prisoners studying for basic skills qualifications.

All prisons have a mandatory requirement to provide a core curriculum which includes basic skills, information technology and preparation for work all of which are assessed using nationally recognised qualifications.

Basic skills are assessed using a national test which is available weekly. Therefore a prisoner who is transferred midway through a basic skills course is likely to be able to continue this at the receiving prison if access to the education department is provided. Furthermore, prisoners' studying for other core curriculum subjects should be able to complete these if they are transferred.

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