§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget was in each of the last five years for prisoners undertaking(a) distance learning courses, (b) Open University or other degree courses, (c) basic skills qualifications, (d) GCSE qualifications and (e) A-level qualifications. [172423]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisFunding for the Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit is ring-fenced and administered jointly by DfES and the Home Office. Prisons are allocated a total education budget and have flexibility to use this to purchase education to meet their learners' needs. 1329W Budgets are not disaggregated by level of course or qualification. Core funding for prisoners' education for the last five years is:
£ millions Financial year Education expenditure 1999–2000 40.9 2000–01 41.9 2001–02 52.6 2002–03 59.4 2003–04 70.9
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many prisoners in each of the last five years successfully completed(a) distance learning courses, (b) Open University or other degree courses, (c) basic skills qualifications, (d) GCSE qualifications and (e) A-level qualifications. [172425]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe table as follows shows all prisoner achievements in Open University courses over the past five years.
Completed Passed 1998–99 185 160 1999–00 220 189 2000–01 245 211 2001–02 250 213 2002–03 343 307 We do not hold information on the completion of Distance Learning courses and current data collection systems do not allow us to report on awards gained across the prison estate at GCSE and A level.
The table as follows shows prisoner achievement in basic skills against national targets over the past four years. In 2000–01 and 2001–02 targets were set at level 2 because qualifications at this level are considered key to enhancing individual employability.
We widened targets from 2002–03 to cover all levels to enable prison establishments to be more responsive to the range of learning needs among their population.
Target Achievement (percentage) 2000–01 114,500 12,500 (86) 2001–02 118,000 16,000 (88) 2002–03 228,800 41,518 (144) 2003–043(provisional) 236,631 46,517 (127) 1 Level 2 2 All levels 3 Provisional