SHANNON TRUST

That this House notes that 48 per cent. of UK prisoners cannot read and that most such prisoners leave prison illiterate; further notes that offenders who leave prison illiterate are much less likely to find work and much more likely to return to crime; believes that if prison is to work and society is to be made safer, then we must ensure that the problem of illiteracy amongst prisoners and offenders on probation is overcome; commends the work of the Shannon Trust which aims to help prisoners to learn to read in part through the support of literate prisoners who become mentors; and congratulates the Trust for having so far taught some 1,500 prisoners to read, with a further 3,000 currently learning; and calls upon the Government to support this and similar prison literacy schemes in order to prevent reoffending.