§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisons plan to reduce education facilities during the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [26665]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 29 April 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the percentage of prisons that plan to reduce education facilities during the current financial year.73 prisons and young offender institutions, 57 per cent., are currently planning to reduce contracted educational provision in 1996–97.Education is an essential part of the opportunities which must be provided in prisons. The Prison Service has given guidance to governors which identifies the core curriculum areas to which priority should be given. This includes the necessary support for prisoners who lack the basic skills of literacy and numeracy. But it is right for governors to review all regime activities and make considered decisions on how available financial provision can best 403W be utilised. There is, for example, scope for improving the targeting of education provision and for considering whether other activities, like work and programmes to tackle offending behaviour, can better address identified prisoner deficits.