HC Deb 23 January 1986 vol 90 cc442-3
16. Mr. Forth

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with prison staffing levels and recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

We are satisfied that prison staffing levels and recruitment are sufficient to meet the general requirements of the prison service. Prison officer numbers at over 18,500 are higher than ever before, and represent an increase of around 17 per cent. since 1979.

Mr. Forth

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. In view of the Government's excellent prison building programme, is he satisfied that there is sufficient and adequate provision for the recruitment of further prison officers to staff the enhanced prison accommodation?

Mr. Mellor

We took a decision late last year to increase the numbers that could be recruited in the present financial year. I assure my hon. Friend that the matter is kept under constant review.

Mr. Corbett

Will the Minister consider the reply that he has just given to the House? Will he confirm that he has had constant representations from the Prison Officers Association about the inadequacy of staffing in prisons, such as Winson Green in Birmingham, which leads to both convicted prisoners and those on remand being locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day?

Mr. Mellor

I acknowledge that, despite the Government embarking on the largest increase in expenditure on the prison system this century, problems still remain. One is that the increase in the number of prisoners means that we are still below the authorised staffing levels in some prisons. I accept that that has unfortunate consequences in some establishments, including Winson Green. We shall continue to do what we can to tackle the problems.

Mr. Batiste

Does my hon. Friend accept that morale is an important factor in recruitment and in the retention of prison officers already in post? Will he therefore order an immediate investigation into the scurrilous attack made on Monday in the Daily Mirror against prison officers at Rudgate prison in my constituency, so that their good name may be cleared quickly?

Mr. Mellor

The individual who made those allegations was himself a former prison officer dismissed from the service for dishonesty, so he obviously has an interest in saying such things. We have no reason to think that any of the allegations are true, but the matter is being investigated, as my hon. Friend wishes.