§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reason underlying the reduction in the key performance target for staff sickness, as published in the Prison Service Corporate Plan 2001–02 between 2000–01 and 2001–02. [49968]
§ Beverley HughesThe Key Performance Indicator (KPI) target was agreed following the "Working Well Together" study published by the Cabinet Office in July 1998 and the recommendations of the National Audit Office report on the management of sickness in the Prison Service published in May 1999. The targets set aimed to achieve a stepped reduction in the average level of staff sickness by 20 per cent. by 2001 and 30 per cent. by 2003. These reductions are in line with Cabinet Office targets across the civil service.
The sickness figures for April 2001–02 are not yet available. However, a figure for the year ending February showed a KPI of 13.93 days. The key performance target in the Corporate Plan 2001–02 was to ensure that average staff sickness did not exceed 10 working days by April 2002. The service will not meet its KPI target.
Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there was a waiting list for(a) reading, (b) writing, (c) computer skills training and (d) other educational courses at HM prisons in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [48914]
§ Beverley HughesInformation on the numbers of prisoners waiting to take up educational courses is not collected but we do know that waiting lists exist for courses in prison education departments including those in basic skills and computer skills. The Government are creating more learning opportunities through increased investment over the next two years and by mapping basic and key skills into learning in other prison regimes such as vocational training, workshops, kitchens and physical education so that prisoners can gain dual accreditation.