§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prison establishments are currently holding children under 17 years of age; how many children are in each; and what arrangements are being made for their education. [17482]
§ 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 David Scott to Ms Diane Abbott, dated 6 March 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about prison establishments currently holding children under 17 years of age; how many children are in each; and what arrangements are being made for their education.Details of the number of 15 and 16 year olds held in prison establishments on 31 January 1997 (the latest date for which figures are available) are given in the attached table.Education in non-contracted out prisons in England and Wales is provided by contractors which were appointed by competitive tender in 1993. Statutory responsibility for prison education and training lies with the Home Secretary.The Young Offender Institution Consolidated Rules (June 1995) state that for prisoners aged less than 17, at least 15 hours a week of "education or training courses" will be provided.Prison governors are being encouraged to prioritise their education provision on specific areas which are included in the recently introduced core curriculum for prison education. Education provision will focus on core subjects, basic education (literacy and numeracy), information technology, life and social skills. Additionally, education contractors are being asked to consider linking their education provision for those under 17 years of age, to the National Curriculum for schools where appropriate.696W
Population of 15 and 16 year olds in prison service establishments, 31 January 1997 1 by sex and establishment Establishment 15 year olds 16 year olds All aged 15–16 Askham Grange 0 1 1 Aylesbury 1 10 11 Brinsford 18 35 53 Bullwood Hall 0 4 4 Cardiff 5 4 9
Population of 15 and 16 year olds in prison service establishments, 31 January 19971 by sex and establishment Establishment 15 year olds 16 year olds All aged 15–16 Castington 0 2 2 Deerbolt 20 34 54 Doncaster 7 29 36 Exeter 1 3 4 Feltham 61 128 189 Glen Parva 29 46 75 Gloucester 0 7 7 Hindley 9 39 48 Hollesley Bay 1 12 13 Holloway 0 2 2 Hull 4 4 8 Huntercombe 0 30 30 Lancaster Farms 7 16 23 Low Newton 3 23 26 Moorland 3 8 11 New Hall 2 1 3 Northallerton 4 13 17 Onley 16 32 48 Portland 22 54 76 Stoke Heath 14 36 50 Styal 0 4 4 Swansea 0 6 6 Swinfen Hall 0 3 3 Thorn Cross 3 10 13 Werrington 14 47 61 Wetherby 15 36 51 Blank/other 2 3 5 Total males 257 666 923 Total females 2 13 15 All establishments 261 682 943 1 All figures are provisional.