§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate for spending on prison education for 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 following the Woodcock and Learmont reports. [40461]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 2 November 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the estimate for spending on prison education for 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 following the Woodcock and Learmont reports.Budgets for education services are devolved to governors who base their spending plans on local needs taking into account the number of teacher contact hours which can be purchased from their education provider at the agreed contract price.
The estimate for spending on prison education in 1995–96, including Public Library Authority library provision but excluding Vocational Training and Construction Industry Training spending, is £37,093,000.
Estimates of expenditure for 1996–97 and 1997–98 will be determined as part of the strategic planning cycle on which negotiations are currently taking place. Final decisions will not be taken until shortly before the start of the next financial year.