Young Offenders: Education

Mr. Jenkins
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the provision of educational courses for offenders serving custodial sentences in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle
Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) in England on 31 July 2006. OLASS funds the delivery of skills for offenders (aged 15 and over) held in English Public Sector prisons for both sentenced prisoners and those held on remand.

The allocation for the provision of education for prisoners aged 15 to 17 in public sector young offender institutions in England in the academic year 2008/09 was £19.4 million. The allocation for adult prisoners (post 18) held in English Public Sector prisons for the academic year 2008/09 was £142 million.

In Wales, from April 2006, commissioning responsibilities for offender learning and skills provision became the responsibility of Director of Offender Management in Wales. The allocation for adult prisoners held in Welsh Public Sector prisons for the academic year 2008/09 was £2.3 million. Responsibilities for learning and skills provision for those in custody in Wales transferred to the Welsh Assembly Government with effect from 1 April 2009.

Mr. Jenkins
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what language courses are offered to offenders serving custodial sentences.

Maria Eagle
Courses in French, German, Spanish, British Sign Language and English for speakers of other languages are offered through the Learning and Skills Council's Offender Learning and Skills Service to offenders in English Public Sector prisons. During the last 12 months, offenders in custody have studied Open University courses in French, German, Spanish and Italian.

In Wales, taught courses are available in English Literature and Language, along with Welsh, French and German in some prisons. Self study and distance learning are also available for a variety of languages as requested.

The central aim of the Offenders' Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) is to improve each offender's chances of gaining sustainable employment, thus contributing to a reduction in re-offending rates. Having the right skills and qualifications has a positive impact on offenders' well-being and ability to adopt a positive role in society. Learning also has an intrinsic value in its own right—and some learning has the effect of stimulating and encouraging participation and further learning. Language teaching and learning has this engaging and progression supporting effect—and in some cases direct employability impacts.