§ Lord Chadlingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many GCSEs and A-levels were awarded last year in prisons and young offenders' institutions. [HL4323]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe information requested covers England and Wales and Northern Ireland. For information with respect to Scotland, I refer the noble Lord to the Scottish Executive. Current data collection systems mean that reporting on awards gained across the prison estate in England at GCSE and A-level would be at disproportionate cost.
Data are collected on the number of basic skills qualifications and work skills qualifications gained. In 2003–04, the Prison Service delivered 46,500 basic skills qualifications against its key performance target of 36,600 and 109,237 work skills qualifications against a target of 58,000.
The smaller size of the estate in Northern Ireland has meant that the Northern Ireland Prison Service was able to collect this information. During the past year a total of six GCSEs were awarded and three GCSE modules were completed.
A number of essential skills qualifications were also achieved. These were at levels 1 and 2 which are equivalent to lower and higher passes at GCSE.
Essential Skills Level 1 Level 2 Literacy 6 2 Numeracy 11 11