§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on why the budgets for education in prison establishments for 1991–92 297W were not allocated on a full-year basis; and what plans are being made for the future budgeting of education, establishment by establishment.
§ Mrs. RumboldFollowing the reorganisation of the prison service, prison establishments were advised in February of an interim allocation of funds for education purposes to cover their first quarter's expenditure in 1991–92. This was to enable the new area managers to obtain further specialist advice to ensure that full year's budgets, to be notified to establishments in June, make the most effective use of overall educational provision for the prison service. In future, area managers will be involved at an earlier stage in the budget-setting process and the agreed overall provision will be allocated between establishments by area managers at the beginning of the financial year, following consultation with governors and the relevant specialists.