§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on education provision in adult prisons in England and Wales. [38881]
§ Beverley HughesWe are increasing prison education funding by 15 per cent. in real terms over the next two years. We have set challenging basic skills targets for every prison. And we will raise standards and learner achievement by bringing developments in mainstream provision into prisons. For example, prisons are part of a national project to trail diagnostic assessments, curriculum materials and tests in basic skills, including English for Speakers of Other Languages. From April 2002 we will be ensuring that provision meets national standards by introducing the Common Inspection Framework into prisons along with a national strategy to support continuous improvement in prisons