Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
7th Report – Ending the cycle of reoffending – part one: rehabilitation in prisons
Justice Committee
HC 469
Published 14 November 2025
Recommendations
27
Accepted in Part
Require formal report outlining prison rehabilitation's contribution to violence against women reduction target
Recommendation
The Government must outline how rehabilitation in the prisons, including for both convicted and remand prisoners, is going to contribute to the Government’s target of reducing of violence against women and girls by 50 per cent, with a formal report …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, outlining various existing and expanding rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing reoffending by perpetrators of violence against women and girls (VAWG). However, it does not explicitly commit to outlining *how* these contribute to the 50% VAWG reduction target with a formal report within six months, instead referencing a progress update on purposeful activity in April 2026.
Ministry of Justice
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31
Accepted in Part
Set statutory minimum for time out of cell in Young Offender Institutions, with data published
Recommendation
As well as making every effort to meet the statutory minimum of 15 hours for education, HMPPS must set a statutory minimum for time out of cell in Young Offender Institutions. As with adult prisons, this minimum must be monitored …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, committing to consider introducing a statutory minimum for time out of cell in legislation and assess its effectiveness, while noting the Youth Custody Service already works to an 8-hour daily expectation which is centrally monitored, though not consistently met across all sites.
Ministry of Justice
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33
Accepted in Part
Require Government to clarify scale and rationale for planned prison education cuts and their impact
Recommendation
We expect the Government to urgently clarify the scale and rationale for any planned cuts to prison education budgets. It must set out how it plans to ensure that all prisons retain the funding necessary to deliver core education provision. …
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Government Response Summary
The government clarifies the prison education budget has not been cut in cash terms but acknowledges a 20-25% reduction in core education delivery from October 2025 due to rising costs. They will use a revised funding formula, new contracts, and digital systems, and are developing an evaluation strategy, but do not commit to publishing an immediate impact assessment for the cuts.
Ministry of Justice
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35
Accepted in Part
Publish clear plan with funding to improve prison education participation and quality
Recommendation
The Government must publish a clear plan, with an associated funding allocation, to improve both participation and quality in prison education. This should include steps to address poor Ofsted outcomes, ensure that all prisoners—including those on remand—have access to meaningful …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, stating it is taking steps to improve participation and quality in prison education, including maximizing attendance, increasing purposeful activity, and implementing new roles and digital tools for quality. However, it will provide a funding update next year, as future funding depends on allocation decisions, and does not commit to publishing a single comprehensive plan with a funding allocation immediately.
Ministry of Justice
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Conclusions (2)
32
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
We are alarmed by reports of significant real-term cuts to prison education budgets, with some prisons facing reductions of up to 50 per cent. As this report makes clear, prison education is already underfunded when compared to provision in the community, and such cuts risk undermining efforts to reduce reoffending. …
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, clarifying the national prison education budget has not been cut in cash terms but acknowledges real-term reductions in delivery hours (20-25% from October 2025) due to rising costs. It details a revised funding formula, new education contracts, and digital systems to manage the impact and ensure quality.
34
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
It is unacceptable that 50 per cent of prisoners are not involved in prison education, training or work, despite the high level of need across the adult estate. Even for those who do access education, the quality remains poor, with 75 per cent of prisons inspected by Ofsted in 2024/25 …
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the concerns, affirming education's importance and outlining steps to strengthen provision. These include maximising attendance, increasing purposeful activity through "Working Week prototypes," and introducing measures like new leadership roles and neurodiversity support managers to improve education quality, working with Ofsted on a new framework for June 2026.