§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research he has(a) commissioned (b) evaluated on the level of literacy of young offenders in Prison Service establishments; [35022]
(2) what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the level of literacy of (i) those receiving custodial sentences for the first time and (ii) the prison population as a whole. [35021]
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§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility 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. Jack Straw, dated 3 July 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about research (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the level of literacy of offenders in Prison Service establishments.
There is currently no research underway that we have commissioned on the levels of literacy of those receiving custodial sentence for the first time, on the level of literacy of young offenders, or on the prison population as a whole.
The most recent published survey of offenders admitted to young offender establishments was conducted in 1985.
The Prison Service has plans for a basic literacy screening test for all prisoners to be introduced as part of the planned national curriculum for prison education.