Written question asked by Oliver Heald (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 June 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 June 2010. It was answered by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Monday, 14 June 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prisons: Education

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to increase levels of literacy and numeracy among the prison population.

Answer: The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to provide prisoners with the skills they need to secure employment on release. That includes the literacy and numeracy skills that underpin so much else. Education and employment are critical factors in turning prisoners away from crime. The Government's priority on rehabilitation—"The rehabilitation revolution"—will mean that tackling prisoners' learning requirements, including those related specifically to increasing literacy and numeracy, will be high on our agenda.

Secondary information