A 25% national reduction in Core Education across prisons,
revealed by the Government in its response to a Justice Committee
report, ‘risks jeopardising' rehabilitation efforts, MPs have
warned.
Conditions in youth custody settings are ‘deplorable' and there
appears to be no correlation between earlier release times and
willingness to engage in work or education, the Committee said.
In its November report ‘Ending the
cycle of reoffending - part one: rehabilitation in
prisons', the Committee said it was ‘alarmed' by
reports of real-term cuts to prison education budgets of up to 50
per cent and urged the Government to clarify the rationale of any
planned budget reductions.
It must publish a clear plan to improve both
participation and quality in prison education, MPs
added.
In its response published today (Friday, 30 January) the
Government said: ‘The national prison
education budget has not been cut. However, the cost of
delivering high-quality education has increased significantly in
recent years. Although the budget has slightly increased in cash
terms, it has not kept pace with these rising costs. This has
meant in (sic) some prisons are facing a reduction in education
delivery hours.
“To ensure the service remains affordable and sustainable, we
have had to make difficult decisions to focus the curriculum more
effectively and are working closely with providers to maximise
value for money. As a result, some reductions in the volume of
Core Education delivered will be necessary from October 2025. We
anticipate a national reduction of around 20–25%, subject to
final analysis.'
Some prisons will experience greater reductions, while others
will receive increases, it is understood.
Ministers' rejection of a key recommendation relating to data
transparency and accountability on prisoner time out of cell
‘risks deprioritising progress' on rehabilitation, the Committee
cautioned.
Its report concluded prison overcrowding, staffing
shortages and deteriorating infrastructure is having a ‘profound
impact on the ability of prisons to deliver
rehabilitation'.
Chair of the Justice Committee and Labour MP MP said: “The
Government's response to the Committee's report on prison
rehabilitation is both weak and
disappointing.
“It's deeply concerning to hear Core Education provision is
being reduced despite the Government's own recognition of the
positive impact that education has on reducing reoffending and
the Committee's recommendation to improve both
participation and quality in prison education. Access to learning
is crucial and any reduction risks jeopardising rehabilitation
efforts.
“As our report highlighted, youth
custody settings are deplorable - something the Government has
accepted. It is shameful that access to education for children
has deteriorated as part of this wider decline. The
Government must deliver on its commitment to publish its
long-awaited update to the Neurodiversity Action Plan without
further delay. It should include how they plan to systematically
identify how many prisoners have neurodivergent needs, as well as
how it aims to support them.
“It is welcome that our recommendations have been accepted
relating to implementing a training programme for governors on
contracting and procurement, and regarding publishing healthcare
access and outcomes data.
“However, immediate and comprehensive action is needed to
address overcrowding, staffing issues, decaying prison
infrastructure and poor education provision. It cannot be right
that capacity issues are leading to prisoners languishing for 22
hours a day in cells, amid a rising remand population and high
reoffending rates.
“The Government needs to provide details on how it plans to
implement the Earned Progression Model, where time served is
increased more for poor conduct than is currently the case, but
not reduced for engaging constructively in work, study or other
rehabilitative activity. Without a clear direction for how
purposeful activity will be a part of it, Ministers run the risk
of creating an earned regression model instead.”
