HC Deb 08 April 1998 vol 310 c261W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Education and Employment on the educational needs and funding of remand prisoners under school leaving age in Feltham Young Offenders Unit.[38145]

Ms Quin

None. Feltham provides under school leaving age remand prisoners with at least 15 hours' education per week. This equates to the hours it is required to provide, under the Young Offender Institution Rules, to convicted inmates aged younger than 17.

All education delivered in Prison Service establishments is based on a core curriculum of basic educational skills, basic Information Technology skills and life and social skills. The Prison Service is now working on a new model regime for Young Offender Institutions. This will provide a broader curriculum and more hours of education for Young Offender Institution inmates, both on remand and convicted. It will take account of the National Schools Curriculum, but will be tailored to the needs of the majority of such young offenders, whose schooling histories are usually poor.