HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 cc118-21W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a state on prison rehabilitation programmes. [98141]

Hilary Benn

One of the principal objectives of the Prison Service is to reduce crime by providing constructive regimes which address offending behaviour, improve educational and work skills and promote law abiding behaviour in custody draws upon "What Works" research to develop a more evidence based approach to tackling offending behaviour and the factors that contribute to re-offending. The What Works in Prison Strategy, launched last year, provides a clear direction for the further development of constructive regimes to reduce the risk of re-offending. The strategy encompasses accredited offending behaviour programmes, drug treatment programmes, increased education provision and a custody to work strategy to improve resettlement outcomes. The Prison and Probation Services have been set the challenging but achievable target of reducing the level of reconvictions by fiver per cent. by 2004 compared to the predicted rate.

Mr.Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budgets were for(a) offending behaviour programmes, (b) drug treatment and (c) basic skills education in prisons in each year between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement on future spending plans. [98142]

Hilary Benn

(a) Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBPs).

£ million
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
Comprehensive Spending Review — — — — 7.3 8.4 8.9 8.9 8.9
Crime Reduction Programme — — — — 0.7 1.1 1.5 — —
Spending Review 2000 — — — — — — — 3.6 11.6

In addition, in each year there is an element of baseline funding for OBPs which cannot be accurately disaggregated from establishment budgets. Future spending plans are to maintain investment at 2003–04 levels.

£ million
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
Public Expenditure Survey 3 5 6 7 — — — — —
Comprehensive Spending Review — — — — 13.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0
Spending Review 2000 — — — — — — 10.0 17.0 14.0

The Government's 2002 Spending Review has made provision for significant, additional funding for drugs misuse. In particular, investment in aftercare and throughcare links will help ensure that the gains made while prisoners are in custody will not be lost on their release. Provision is included to boost drug treatment in prisons.

(c) Education:

£ million
Year Core funding
1995–96 37.0
1996–97 34.5
1997–98 36.2
1998–99 39.0
1999–2000 47.4
2000–01 50.9
2001–02 57.0
2002–03 66.0
2003–04 85.0

From 2001–02, budgets for prison education have been ring-fenced and allocated by the Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit, which reports to the Department for Education and the Home Office. The core budget rose from £57 million in 2001–02 to £66 million in 2002–03, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education (Charles Clarke) recently announced that it will rise to £85 million 2003–04, £110 million in 2004–05 and £125 million in 2005–06. Core funding buys teaching hours, induction and assessment sessions, Library services and education materials. While basic skills are a significant part of prisons' education provision, and each prison has basic skills targets, we cannot say exactly how much of overall education funding goes on basic skills.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners have participated in the Cognitive Self-Change Programme since its inception; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the programme; [98136]

(b) Drug Interventions: Between 1995–96 and 2003–04, the Prison Service has been allocated £143 million for drug interventions. The respective annual allocations are shown in the table.

(2) how many prisoners participated in the Enhanced Thinking Skills programme since its inception; and what plans there are to expand the programme. [98143]

Hilary Benn

One hundred and seventy-seven prisoners have participated in the Cognitive Self-Change programme since it was accredited in September 2000. Effectiveness is currently evaluated through reports on institutional behaviour, psychometric data, and risk assessments. Early provisional indications show reductions in hostility, aggression and impulsivity in prisoners undertaking the programme. Reconviction data will in due course also be used to evaluate effectiveness.

Since the inception of the Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme, 18,564 prisoners had participated up to 31 March 2002. This figures will increase by about 5,000 prisoners for 2002–03, and over 6,000 prisoners in subsequent years due to additional funding to increase delivery.

Annette Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff he employs to conduct research into projects, schemes, programmes or courses run for the Prison Service. [98195]

Hilary Benn

There are currently 18 members of staff employed to conduct research into projects, schemes, programmes or courses run for the Prison Service.

However, research may form part of the duties to be performed by members of staff other than these core 18 personnel.

Annette Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time required was to research, evaluate and accredit a project or scheme being run for the Prison Service in the last three years. [98201]

Hilary Benn

The average length of time required was two years to adapt or develop Prison Service programmes to accreditation standard in the last three years. Time scales will vary depending on the complexity of the programme, the availability of research data and resources, and competing priorities.