Less than a third of prisoners have access to education, a committee of MPs has found.

The Commons education and skills select committee concluded in a new report that inmates will continue to re-offend unless their access to training improves.

With ministers committed to reducing the level of re-offending, which costs the taxpayer an estimated £11bn per year, the cross-party group argued that more must be done to equip convicted criminals for a future life free from crime.

Half of all prisoners do not have the skills required by 96 per cent of jobs, the report pointed out, while of those that do undertake training an average of only nine hours per week is spent in formal learning activities.

More that half of male prisoners have no qualifications and illiteracy and innumeracy rates are particularly high in jails.

Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said ministers must introduce an overarching strategy for prison education.

"Although the government has increased resources for prison education, it has not fully met its manifesto commitment to 'dramatically increase the quality and quantity of education provision'," he said.

"Reoffenders are costing the tax payer an estimated £11bn a year. Education has a key role in rehabilitating prisoners into society and finding them secure employment.

"If prisoners are to find a real alternative to crime on their release, then prisons will have to dramatically improve their provision.

"Prisoners need high quality teaching that is suited to their individual needs. If the situation is to improve then the Department for Education and Skills needs to have a fundamental shift in it’s approach."