Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Valerie Vaz and Elizabeth Truss

Tuesday 6th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The fact is that too many people enter our prisons without those skills. We need to use their time in prison to help them to gain the basic skills so that they can succeed outside. We have started measuring prisoners’ skills by testing them as they enter prison. I am keen to see that we measure real progress made during prisoners’ stay in prison and hold governors accountable for that.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

Will the Secretary of State confirm that there will be no return to the policy of banning books for prisoners?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I confirm that books are freely available in prison.