Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Lord Vaizey of Didcot

Tuesday 6th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I confirm that books are freely available in prison.

[Mr Edward Vaizey (Wantage) (Con)]

I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend to her position. I was delighted to hear the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport talking about the importance of the arts in prisons. I hope that my right hon. Friend will recognise how the arts can bring prisoners to literacy and teach them a huge range of skills. I hope she will meet the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance at the earliest opportunity to discuss what the arts can do, particularly in respect of literacy.

[Elizabeth Truss]

May I say what a fantastic job my right hon. Friend has done in championing the arts in every part of our country? His legacy lives on, and it will live on in our prisons.