HC Deb 20 June 1963 vol 679 cc624-5
12. Mr. Boyden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assistant governors class II have been appointed since 1st January 1962, and of these how many were prison officers; and how many assistant governors class I have been appointed since 1st January 1962, and how many of these were originally prison officers.

Miss Pike

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Boyden

Does the hon. Lady remember her right hon. Friend saying yesterday in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) that he thought that prison officers receive far too little recognition for the excellent way in which they do their jobs? Could not her Department and my right hon. Friend do more about this by promoting more of these officers to assistant governors class II and taking more energetic steps to provide training if it is considered that some of them are not quite up to the mark?

Miss Pike

I am sure that we all recognise the work which my right hon. Friend is doing in this respect. I can tell the hon. Gentleman that discussions will shortly be taking place with the Prison Officers Association with the

The number of Assistant Governors Class II who have taken up their appointment since 1st January, 1962, and their method of selection are as follows:
— Internal Competition(restricted to the prison service) Open Competition Total
Prison Officers Others Prison Officers Others
MEN:
1962 … … 7 2 7 9 7
1963 … … 5 2 17 7 17
Total … 12 4 24 16 24
WOMEN:
1962 … … — 2 2 2 2
1963 … … — — 3 — 3
Total … — 2 5 2 5
Appointment to Assistant Governor Class I is made by promotion from Assistant Governor Class II and from the higher grades of the prison officer class. Since 1st January, 1962, 23 men and one woman have been promoted to Assistant Governor Class I. They include nine former prison officers.