Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has urged the Government to take more action to beat illiteracy and innumeracy in prisons during questions to the Ministry of Justice today.
One in five prisoners needs help reading and writing, a figure slightly higher than that of functional illiteracy among the UK's adult population, which currently stands at one in six. Improving literacy skills is crucial to reducing reoffending as it boosts the chances of a prisoner getting and holding on to a job when released.
Calling for the Government to renew their focus on this issue, Caroline asked:
"In prisons across the country, education can sometimes take a long time to access and often be viewed as a reward for good behaviour rather than a vital cornerstone of rehabilitations. What plans does my Honourable Friend have to help prisoners overcome these barriers and access the skills which will be so vital to them upon release?"
Expressing his commitment to education for prisoners, the Minister responsible, Jeremy Wright MP, replied:
"Well I think my Honourable Friend is entirely right that rehabilitation is crucial and that education is a crucial part of rehabilitation. So what we're going to do is make sure that prisoners have every incentive to engage in that rehabilitation and that means reforming the incentives and earned privileges schemes so that they do have those clear incentives. And it also means making sure that if prisoners want to get to the top of that particular scheme they'll need to help other prisoners in a range of ways, one of which may be operating as mentors or learning tutors in the way that charities, as she knows, often support."
Speaking outside the chamber, Caroline said:
"I am pleased with the progress that this Government has already made and welcome Jeremy Wright's support, but there is much more to be done. The rates of literacy and numeracy among British prisoners are truly shocking and we have a unique opportunity to directly engage with individuals in prisons and tackle the issue head-on."
Caroline is a fervent believer in the power of lifelong training and skills development. For the past two years she has lobbied the Government to combat literacy and numeracy problems among the UK's adult population. This Thursday Caroline will hold a debate in the Chamber of the House of Commons to discuss adult literacy and numeracy.