Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Fabricant Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

8. What steps the Government are taking to improve access for offenders to employment and literacy education.

[Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con)]

12. What steps the Government are taking to improve access for offenders to employment and education.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Michael Fabricant; get in there, man.

[Michael Fabricant]

I will!

My hon. Friend the Minister knows that 46% of prisoners have a literacy age of only 11. That proportion is three times the national average, which is still too high. Does he agree that that lack of literacy is often the reason why people go to prison in the first place? Will he explain in a bit more detail how we can reduce the illiteracy level so that we do not get reoffending?

[Mr Speaker]

Not too much detail.