Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prisoners have accessed support through Prison Work Coaches since the scheme's introduction; and how many of those prisoners entered the labour market as a result in each such year.

The Department for Work and Pensions has around 200 Prison Work Coaches who provide benefit and employment support to prisoners in every prison across England, Scotland and Wales.

Data is not available on how many prisoners have accessed support through Prison Work Coaches.

We are pleased employment rates amongst prison leavers continue to improve. In the year to March 2023, 25.9% of prison leavers were employed 6 months post release, up from 17.3% in the previous year, excluding cases out of scope or where the status was unknown. This information is included in the Community Performance Annual, update to March 2023 which is published on gov.uk[1].

[1] Community Performance Annual, update to March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)