Question follow-through · 40134

Prisons: Literacy

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to (a) measure and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of literacy programs in prisons.

answeredMinistry of Justice

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Tabled
20 Mar 2025
Target answer date
24 Mar 2025
Answer
27 Mar 2025 · 7 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Justice and policing

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Recorded timeline

  1. 20 Mar 2025

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to (a) measure and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of literacy programs in prisons.

  2. 24 Mar 2025

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 27 Mar 2025

    Answer published

    We have robust evidence on the positive benefits of education to reducing reoffending, however, we don’t have specific evidence for the link between literacy levels and reoffending. We are currently improving our understanding of factors influencing parti...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Reoffenders: Community Orders

31 Oct 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of community sentences in addressing the (a) health and (b) social needs of people who repeatedly reoffend.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Reoffenders: Continuing Care

31 Oct 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving continuity of care for repeat offenders as they move between prison and the community.

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Offenders: Disadvantaged

31 Oct 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase the use of (a) problem-solving courts, (b) community treatment requirements and (c) other rehabilitative measures for people with multiple disadvantage.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Reoffenders

31 Oct 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the potential cost savings to the criminal justice system of a one per cent reduction in reoffending among repeat offenders.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Reoffenders: Disadvantaged

31 Oct 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to commission an updated analysis of reoffending patterns among people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Prisoners: Health

27 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the Chief Medical Officer’s report, Health of People in Prison, on Probation and in the Secure NHS Estate in England, published on 6 November 2025, and how his department will be wo

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Legal Aid Scheme: Water Supply

12 Feb 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the role of Legal Aid in enabling consumers to hold water companies to account for overcharging and environmental damage.