HC Deb 13 July 1995 vol 263 c698W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining how the bonds scheme for prison governors works. [32251]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 13 July 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how the bonus scheme for prison governors works. The Special Bonus Scheme applies to all staff in the Prison Service and Home Office, including governor grades. Special bonuses are used as an exceptional measure to give prompt and tangible recognition for outstanding performance in particularly demanding tasks or situations which may arise during periods of exceptional pressure. In the financial year 1994/95 fourteen such awards were given to prison governors. More usually, governor grades earn performance related pay based on movement up an agreed scale on the basis of the annual performance assessment by their line manager.