To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for increasing the educational and training opportunities for prison inmates.

It is estimated that between 1989–90 and 1992–93 expenditure through LEAs for educational provision in prison service establishments will rise from £19·152 million to £27·387 million. Between 1987·88 and 1988–89 student hours rose by 23 per cent. and attention will continue to be paid to both efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of education in prisons. The prison service is exploring the implications of the national vocational qualifications initiative and progress on this and other developments will be contained in the annual reports of the prison service.