§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current Prison Service policy with regard to prisoners identified as having learning disabilities and dyslexia; and if he will make a statement; [9127]
(2) how many prisoners have been identified as having (a) a learning disability and (b) dyslexia on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9126]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 17 December 1996]: Responsibility for these matters 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 18 December 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your two recent Questions about prisoners with learning disabilities and dyslexia.The policy of the Prisons Board towards prisoners who have any learning disabilities, including dyslexia, is that those who need to improve basic literacy and are prepared to attend education classes will be given every opportunity to do so. Contractors providing education to prisons are required to offer a basic skills screening test in numeracy and literacy to all prisoners. Basic literacy is included in the Prison Service's core education curriculum. A number of prisons are also trying to find better ways of giving basic skills training as part of vocational training and in the course of daily work in prison workshops. This work is being supported by the Basic Skills Agency, with whom the Prison Service works closely. The Unit has contracted Amersham and Wycombe College to provide a national support project to this end.The number of prisoners identified by the Basic Skills Screening test as having a learning disability is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.