§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training exists for prisoners to assist them with their rehabilitation. [132505]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Government's clearly stated aims for the Prison Service are to reduce re-offending and to protect the public. To achieve the objective of reducing re-offending the Prison Service seeks to provide constructive regimes which address offending behaviour, improve education and work skills and promote law abiding behaviour in custody and on release.
The Prison Service offers three general offending behaviour programmes, Enhanced Thinking Skills, Reasoning and Rehabilitation and Problem Solving, suited to prisoners convicted of offences related to sex, drugs and violence. There is also a family of specialist programmes for sex offenders. These programmes have been accredited by an independent panel of experts as being effective in reducing re-offending. Government funding has allowed the Prison Service to double the number of accredited programmes delivered over the period 1999–2002 and to develop new programmes to address a wider range of offending behaviour, including drug related crime.
Education in prison focuses on a core curriculum of basic educational skills, life and social skills and Information Technology skills. Together with opportunities to gain National Vocational Qualifications, these training opportunities enhance the prospects of a prisoner's employability.
As preparation for release, an Inmate Development and Pre-Release programme is offered at a number of establishments, while others run an eight week preparation for work course which provides the opportunity to acquire 712W nationally recognised accredited skills. In addition, resettlement prisons and specialist resettlement units provide a range of training facilities to enable prisoners to return satisfactorily to the community.