§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) persons in Her Majesty's prisons in Scotland, and (b) inmates of young offenders, institutions, borstal institutions and detention centers are illiterate; and if he will take steps to make such prisoners literate by the time their sentence or referment is over.
§ Mr. William RossOf the 18,500 convicted persons received into penal establishments in Scotland in the year ended 31st December 1973, 68 adult prisoners and 37 inmates under the age of 21 were unable to read or write. About 10 per cent. of the remainder were judged to be in need of remedial education.
Facilities for remedial education are provided at all institutions for persons under 21 and at most prisons, and inmates are given every encouragement to take advantage of these. Any person in a penal institution who has not attained school leaving age receives whole-time education.