§ 12 and 13. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress has been made in associating prison officers more actively in the rehabilitation of prison inmates;
(2) what new training facilities he is establishing to enable prison officers to qualify as social workers in prisons.
§ Mr. BrookeI welcomed the constructive proposals in a memorandum recently submitted by the Prison Officers' Association on the rôle of the prison officer in a modern penal system. These proposals, which include suggestions for enlarging the scope of prison officers' functions in closed local prisons and for the development of 1501 training in social studies, are now being considered by a joint working party of the Prison Department Whitley Council.
§ Mr. BoydenI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that Answer. Will he give special attention to seeing that prison officers are trained specially for this rehabilitation work and not, as it were, leave them up in the air, having approved the scheme? Will he also see that prison officers are given scope for promotion on the welfare side in view of the long wait which most of them must now have before getting even one stage further?
§ Mr. BrookeThis is a matter which is of considerable importance and I am very grateful for the attitude of the Prison Officers' Association to it. As to training, a course in group work has been arranged at Leicester University and that is being attended by officers from three prisons and one borstal. It is also hoped to make arrangements with adult education authorities for other training in social studies.
§ Miss BaconIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is encouraging to know that prison officers wish to do this work? Will he do everything to expedite a decision, which could be of benefit not only to prisoners but also to prison officers?
§ Mr. BrookeYes. Sir, and I think that we are acting as the hon. Lady would wish. This is now under consideration by a working party on which both my Department and the Prison Officers' Association are represented. I am sure that that is the most profitable way of making progress.