HC Deb 29 February 1996 vol 272 cc696-8W
Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number employed within the Scottish Prison Service; if he will provide a breakdown(a)for (i) uniformed and (ii) civilian employees and (b) for each institution, in each of the last five years. [17837]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 29 February 1996: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the total number employed within the Scottish Prison Service with a breakdown (a) for (i) uniformed and (ii) civilian employees and (b) for each institution in each of the last five years. I attach a table which gives the information which I think you are seeking. It is in 2 parts. First, the number of uniformed and civilian staff on 31 March each year from 1991 to 1995. In this table, civilian staff means civilian instructors in the SPS workshops, and civilian staff in typing grades in prisons, and in some prison maintenance jobs, as well as administrative staff in the Scottish Prison Service Headquarters. Uniformed staff include all prison officers, senior officers and principal officers, as well as prison governors (although the latter do not in fact wear a uniform). On 1 April 1995, however, the Scottish Prison Service moved to a New Staffing Structure, which abolished the previous grades and incorporated the HQ staff into the SPS Staffing Structure. In addition, a number of posts which were previously filled by uniformed staff are now filled by civilian staff, such as professional nurses or administrative staff in offices or maintenance staff dealing with the prison estate. The most recent figures available as at 1 February 1996 are in Table 2. These distinguish between operational management and staff, and other staff. I hope this provides the information which you are seeking.

Table 1: SPS staffing as at 31 March each year 1991–1995
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Establishment Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian
Shotts 377 10 423 13 423 13 418 13 387 16
SPS College 32 7 27 12 30 13 30 10 38 17
Stores 23 22 22 13 15
Headquarters 28 179 28 179 27 179 33 192 33 202
Total 3,851 363 4,039 393 4,249 388 4,101 403 3,763 444

Uniformed staff: governors, officers senior officers and principal officers.

Civilian staff administrative grades in SPS HQ, typing staff in prisons, civilian maintenance staff and drivers.

Shotts unit and barlinnie special unit included in main establishments.

Table 2: SPS staffing as at 1 February 1996
1996
Establishment Operational management and staff Other staff1
Aberdeen 123 20
Barlinnie 454 59
Castle Huntly 56 10
Cornton Vale 157 32
Dumfries 143 23
Dungavel 57 15
Edinburgh 376 67
Friarton 42 4
Glenochil 370 61
Greenock 141 18
Inverness 89 11
Longriggend 148 26
Low Moss 139 22
NIC 37 1
Noranside 60 10
Penninghame 28 10
Perth 355 69
Peterhead 204 39
Peterhead Unit 18 1
Polmont 271 50
Shotts 330 65
Shotts Unit 24 1
SPS College 33 27
SPS Central Stores 14
SPS Headquarters 24 190
Total 3,679 846
1 'Other Staff' includes administrative, nursing, maintenance and other staff.

Ms Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total expenditure on the Scottish Prison Service and the component allocated to private security firms; and if he will provide a breakdown by institution in each of the last five years. [17836]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Airdrie Cunningham, dated 29 February 1996: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the total expenditure on the Scottish Prison Service and the component allocated to private security firms with a breakdown by institution in the last five years. The total expenditure on the Scottish Prison Service in the last five years, as shown in the Annual Reports is listed below, no part of which was allocated to private security firms.

Financial year Total expenditure (£000)
1990–91 125,908
1991–92 136,763
1992–93 150,027
1993–94 154,343
1994–95 164,283

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