Asked by: Baroness Rebuck (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that the 60 per cent of the prison population who do not have at least entry level literacy skills do so by the time they complete their prison sentence.
Answered by Baroness Mobarik
Prisons should be places of safety and reform. The Government is determined to make sure that it achieves better educational outcomes for all prisoners, including in literacy. This will form a key part of its safety and reform plan, which it will set out this autumn.
Asked by: Baroness Rebuck (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of prisoners' access to course-specific books and study materials to support their studies towards recognised further or higher education qualifications, and what plans they have to improve current arrangements.
Answered by Lord Faulks
Offender Learning and Skills providers are responsible for ensuring learners can access course specific books and study materials. Books may also be accessed through prison libraries and sent by families and friends.
On 8 September the Secretary of State asked Dame Sally Coates to lead a review of education in prisons which will report in due course.