Asked by: Baroness Blower (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bellamy on 6 March (HL5835), when the tendering process for the delivery of prison education when the current contract for the Prison Education Framework ends will (1) start, and (2) end.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Following engagement with suppliers from the private, public and third sector, procurement for new successor contracts to the current Prison Education Framework arrangements is due to commence in Summer 2023, contracts are due to be awarded to successful bidders in autumn 2024. Contracts are expected to go live in April 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Blower (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bellamy on 6 March (HL5835), whether there will be a formal consultation over the model to deliver prison education when current contract arrangements for the Prison Education Framework end; and if so, when the consultation period will (1) start, and (2) end.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We want to develop a healthy market by encouraging the greatest variety of prison education suppliers possible to respond to our invitation to tender for new successor contracts to the current Prison Education Framework arrangements.
We have conducted extensive engagement with the market to communicate our vision for the future education service, demonstrate the range of opportunities available to suppliers across the education and skills sector, and to invite input into the future service design.
Our engagement with the market involved a launch event in April 2022, as well as subject-specific webinars and 1:1 meetings with attendees. Further market engagement events were held in November 2022 and February 2023, illustrating how market feedback is being used to shape service design. Participants were given the opportunity to provide their feedback regarding the proposed future prison education service model, with a deadline of 8 March 2023.
Other key stakeholders consulted during this period have included prisoners and those with lived experience; HMPPS operational staff; trade unions; and third sector organisations.
The procurement process for the new successor contracts is due to commence in summer 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Blower (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bellamy on 6 March (HL5835), what is their timeline for the (1) development, and (2) delivery, of the model to deliver prison education when current contract arrangements for the Prison Education Framework end.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We are creating a Prisoner Education Service (PES) that will ensure prisoners improve skills such as literacy and numeracy, acquire relevant vocational qualifications, and access employment and training opportunities on release. We have already begun making investments including through the recruitment of new Heads of Education Skills and Work and Neurodiversity Support leads in prisons. We are also working with employers to improve skills training and deliver apprenticeships for prisoners.
New successor contracts to the current Prison Education Framework (PEF) arrangements will be an important part of PES. Early development of the successor contracts commenced back in April 2022 with a period of initial market consultation involving input from stakeholders and potential suppliers, to help shape thinking on the new procurement and contracting arrangements that will improve performance, quality learner engagement and value for money.
Additional market warming sessions were held in November 2022 and February 2023, with further feedback gathered. The procurement process for new successor contracts is due to commence in summer 2023. Contracts are due to be awarded to successful bidders in autumn 2024 and are expected to go live in April 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Blower (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the potential (1) costs, and (2) savings, that could be achieved for the public by bringing the delivery of prison education into the public sector.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Prison Education is delivered by a range of education suppliers (including public, private and third sector). We are focused on ensuring education meets prison learner needs, provides value for money and teaches the skills needed for prisoners to get employment on release. We are currently engaging with the market to develop the best model to deliver education when current contract arrangements end for the Prison Education Framework, which will focus on both quality and value for money. We fully recognise the value of prison education, but have not sought to quantify that in precise financial terms.