UCU calls for an end to budget cuts as government response to Justice Select Committee report reveals 25% slash in education in prisons

In its response published today, the government revealed that core education delivered in prisons would be reduced by up to 25% across the UK. 

While welcoming the recommendations of the Commons Justice Select Committee, the UCU is urging the government to stop the damaging staffing cuts in prison education if it really wants to tackle prisoner reoffending. 

UCU submitted evidence to the inquiry and the final report cited several points we had raised. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Reductions of this scale to an already underfunded sector will really damage our ability to give prisoners alternatives for life on the outside. They are simply unsustainable and to say budgets have not been cut whilst at the same time confirming that core prison education will be slashed by 25% is tinkering with the truth. 

'Rather than reducing education in prisons, the government and prison management need to invest and stop cuts to jobs. Meaningful education cannot take place against a backdrop of reduced funding and redundancies of prison educators.   

'The government must urgently set out how it will address the barriers to education delivery, particularly staffing, to ensure that education is prioritised as a core pillar of prison rehabilitation.'