HL Deb 19 April 2000 vol 612 cc116-7WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will be ready to give senior managers and key policy staff of the Prison Service training on the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 and whether they will place the course material in the Library of the House; whether they will also place course material for existing Prison Service training courses on legal issues in the Library; whether all officers of the Prison Service will have taken these courses by 1 October 2000, and what arrangements have been made for training members of Boards of Visitors on these issues. [HL1988]

Lord Bach

Training events specifically on the Human Rights Act 1998 have been running since last year and are continuing. Consideration of the effects of the Act will be incorporated into other relevant courses.

We do not propose to place copies of such a wide range of material in the Library since much will mean little in isolation. However, a copy of the Prison Service College prospectus, which gives details of Prison Service training courses, including those with a legal element, will be placed in the Library shortly. A copy of material specifically on the Human Rights Act 1998 which is designed for all Prison Service staff will also be placed in the Library when it is available.

Not all prison officers undertake training courses exclusively on legal issues. Such training is targeted at those officers who require it for their specific duties, although more general training frequently contains such an element.

Arrangements are currently being made to provide Human Rights Act 1998 training for Boards of Visitors at their annual conference later this year.