Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support his Department offers to male prisoners who are reluctant to engage with education or work programmes.

We are committed to delivering purposeful activity in prisons, so that people have the best chance of not reoffending. Under the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS), resistant learners are offered personal and social development activities. This can increase their confidence and provide the motivation required to progress to formal learning and work activities. Where possible, learning is embedded into other regime activities.

Prisoner Learning Representatives, Peer Mentors and Learning Champions offering help with reading and life skills and providing information, advice and guidance, individualised support and encourage other prisoners to engage in regime activities.

OLASS providers offer individualised programmes of support to prisoners who present with a learning difficulty or disability.