Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Prison Education Service contracts have been agreed; for what reason there was a delay in signing the contracts; and what her planned timetable is for signing the contracts.

The Prisoner Education Service comprises of six different nationally contracted services, including Core Education and Careers Information and Guidance as the two most significant ones by total contract value. To provide some context, there are circa 70 contracts within the Prisoner Education Services at various stages of being launched.

To date, the 11 new national Careers Information, Advice and Guidance contracts were successfully launched on 1 April 2025. Additionally, new services, enabling distance learning for Further and Higher Education and prison library services, delivered by Local Authorities and Social Enterprises, also commenced on 1 April 2025.

Moreover, contracts have been formally executed for the new digital, web-based screening and assessment tools and for Common Awarding Organisations. Both services shall commence on 1 October 2025.

The successful suppliers for Core Education contract will be announced in due course and all details associated with these contracts remain ‘In Commercial Confidence’ until further notice. The Ministry of Justice is satisfied with the timely progress made to date on the Prisoner Education Service as a whole.