Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Education and Training for Prisoners

Tuesday 5 November 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assessment highlights reduced overcrowding to enhance focus on prisoner education and training.
  • HMP Highpoint operates a state-of-the-art rail centre of excellence providing prisoners with industry-standard training and employment guarantees.
  • The Minister expressed interest in the pay structure at Bronzefeld prison, encouraging the hon. Member to write for further investigation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lincoln Jopp Con Spelthorne
Justice & Courts Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the assessment of the effectiveness of education and training programs in prisons.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of education and training provided to prisoners?

Answer from Nicholas Dakin

We have reduced overcrowding to ensure that prisons have the capacity to focus on education and training. For example, HMP Highpoint's state-of-the-art rail centre of excellence gives prisoners industry-standard training and guaranteed employment on release.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The effectiveness assessment was not directly addressed.

How: Changed Subject To An Example Of A Successful Program

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Q2 Lincoln Jopp Con Spelthorne
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP visited Bronzefield category A women's prison in his constituency and observed that prisoners were rewarded with small amounts of money based on the type of work they did, favouring numeracy and literacy over other skills.

Question

A couple of weeks ago, I visited the Bronzefeld category A women's prison in my Spelthorne constituency. I saw that prisoners doing work were rewarded with small amounts of money, but the weighting of their pay preferred people who take part in numeracy and literacy over skills, such as working in the bicycle repair shop or the hair salon. Is that a national approach, or is it something the governor has done pragmatically to fit his personal circumstances?

Answer from Nicholas Dakin

It sounds like an interesting approach. I would be grateful if the hon. Gentleman wrote to me so that I can look into it and write back to him. It is certainly the sort of thing we need to be looking at.

Not addressed: The question about remuneration preference was not directly addressed, instead suggesting a follow-up letter.

How: Suggesting Follow-Up Correspondence

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