§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners were diagnosed with dyslexia while in prison during each year since 1990; [13823]
(2) how many prison officer hours were spent training to deal with dyslexic prisoners during each year since 1990; [13827]
(3) what plans there are to introduce tests to screen prisoners for dyslexia; [13825]
(4) what provision is available within the Prison Service for prisoners with dyslexia; [13824]
738WCoast, (cc) Namibia, (dd) Ghana, (ee) Senegal, (ff) Maderia, (gg) Germany, and (hh) the Balearic Islands, in each of the last five years. [14424]
§ Mr. Greg Knight[holding answer 6 February 1997]: Where figures for new jobs—source: Invest In Britain database—and capital flows of investment—source: OECD—into the United Kingdom are available, these are detailed in the two tables.
(5) what training in dealing with dyslexic prisoners is available to staff working in the Prison Service; [13826]
(6) what proportion of prisoners were diagnosed with dyslexia before entering prison during each year since 1990. [13822]
§ 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. George Howarth, dated 7 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your six recent Questions about dyslexia among prisoners.739WEducation in prisons, including the provision of help to prisoners suffering from dyslexia, is provided by contractors rather than by prison officers. Contract terms require them to offer the Basic Skills screening test in numeracy and literacy to all prisoners. There are no plans to introduce additional tests to diagnose dyslexia.Basic literacy is included in the Prison Service's core education curriculum. It is the policy of the Prisons Board towards prisoners who have any learning disabilities, including dyslexia, that those who need to improve basic literacy and are prepared to attend education classes will be given every opportunity to do so.A number of prisons are trying to find better ways of giving basic skills training to prisoners as part of vocational training and in the course of daily work in prison workshops. This work is being supported by the Basic Skills Unit, with whom the Prison Service works closely. The Unit has contracted Amersham and Wycombe College to provide a National Support project to this end. Instructional officers are being encouraged to attend a one day course which is based on an initial certificate in teaching basic skills in the workplace.The number of prisoners identified by the Basic Skills Screening test as having a learning disability, and the number of prisoners diagnosed with dyslexia before entering prisons, are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.