§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on morale, job satisfaction and security in the Prison Service. [33447]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility 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 David Scott to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 20 June 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about morale, job satisfaction and security in the Prison Service.Prison work by its nature is difficult and demanding. Nevertheless, a staff survey in 1994 indicated that two thirds of staff were satisfied with their jobs, and over half felt proud to work for the Prison Service.540WAt present the service needs to lose some posts, but we are seeking as far as possible to achieve this by a mixture of natural wastage and voluntary redundancy.The next survey is due to be carried out in 1997 and this will provide more up-to-date information.