Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders (a) started and (b) completed Prison Education Service (i) catering and (ii) construction apprenticeships in 2023.

The ability of prisoners to undertake apprenticeships was introduced in October 2022.

Apprenticeships for prisoners are primarily undertaken by prisoners eligible to be released on temporary licence, where they start their employment and training in the community and fully complete the apprenticeship after release.

No prisoners started or completed a catering or construction apprenticeship in 2023. One apprentice started a Commis Chef Level 2 apprenticeship in November 2022 and completed their apprenticeship in April 2024 after release.

Three prisoners have started apprenticeships in the catering industry this year including one in a closed prison, where we are trialling the potential of prisoners in the closed estate to also undertake apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are one part of the current employment and training offer. We are developing plans to support prisons to link with more employers and the voluntary sector to increase the number of ex-offenders in employment.