Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Acknowledged
Inconsistent and insufficient purposeful activity across the prison estate hinders rehabilitation.
Conclusion
We agree wholeheartedly with Lord Timpson that there is too much inconsistency across the prison estate. Purposeful activity is integral to supporting rehabilitation. It is therefore disappointing that it continues to be deprioritised by HMPPS amidst other pressures. We are sympathetic to the current constraints the Government is facing regarding overcrowding, staffing, and the physical estate. However, the regime offer is simply not sufficient for supporting efforts towards rehabilitation. We recognise that these problems cannot be resolved overnight, but more needs to be done in the meantime to provide a consistent regime to support the needs of all prisoners. (Conclusion, Paragraph 88)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government commits to considering and assessing the effectiveness of introducing a statutory minimum for time out of room for children in legislation, while noting existing efforts and monitoring within the Youth Custody Service.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
Partially Accept. 94. Education is central to rehabilitation and reducing reoffending, and we are taking steps to strengthen provision across the estate. Future funding will depend on allocations decisions, and we will provide an update to the Committee next year once the financial position has been agreed. 95. We are working with Governors to maximise attendance and classroom utilisation. We will increase our understanding of barriers to engagement, including the participation of remand prisoners. 96. We are increasing the intensity of purposeful activity through initiatives such as the Working Week prototypes, currently running in five Category C prisons. This initiative aims to increase the time prisoners spend engaged in purposeful, work-based activity while strengthening links with community businesses to improve employment prospects on release. 97. Significant measures have been introduced to improve the quality of education. Heads of Education, Skills and Work now provide leadership and accountability across prisons, and 117 Neurodiversity Support Managers are in post to improve support for prisoners with additional learning needs, with recruitment on going in other prisons to fill the remaining positions. Dedicated contract managers also conduct on-site assurance visits to ensure providers are meeting targets, and progress against Ofsted recommendations is closely monitored. We are working closely with Ofsted to ensure that the new Ofsted framework due to be published in June 2026 recognises the context of education, skills and work in prisons and HMPPS are funding some additional pilots of the new framework to ensure its fit for purpose. 98. We are also developing digital tools to support the quality of delivery. The Learning and Work Progress Service tracks progress against prisoner learning plans to ensure better sequencing of education, skills, and work. This is complemented by new contracts for a nationally mandated Careers Information, Advice and Guidance service.
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