Prisoners (Education) (Hansard, 16 June 1988)

§ Ms. Harman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently receiving adult education services from the Inner London education authority community education department.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
On the most recent date for which information is readily available, the total attendances for day and evening classes in the five prison establishments within the Inner London education authority area was 771

§ Ms. Harman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to promote arrangements by individual boroughs to ensure continuing adult education for prisoners when they return to the community after serving their sentence, subsequent to the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
My right hon. Friend has no powers to ensure that the LEAs provide continuing adult education for prisoners when they are returned to the community after serving their sentences. Each LEA has to balance priorities in the light of an assessment of needs and of available resources.
Discussions will be held between the Department of Education and Science, the Home Office, ILEA and those councils which will be concerned with delivery in the five London prisons and this will provide an opportunity to review provision in the community. The Home Office will encourage all London boroughs to make provision as appropriate.