§ 78. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the letter sent to applicants for entry to the Prison Officers Service who are rejected is sufficiently explanatory to satisfy those who are anxious to join the Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI am in process of reviewing the wording of letters sent to unsuccessful candidates.
§ 79. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to enter the Prison Officers Service were received in 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67; how many applicants were accepted and are still in the Service; and on what basis applicants are rejected.
245W
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsRecruitment figures for England and Wales are kept only for calendar years and are given in the following table:—
MEN Total Candidates Number Appointed 1964 6,858 576 1965 5,620 431 1966 8,696 750 1967 (to 31.3.67) 3,063 279 24,237 2,036
WOMEN Total Candidates Number Appointed 1964 725 38 1965 620 35 1966 662 29 1967 (to 31.3.67) 198 23 2,205 125 I regret that information about the extent to which those appointed during the period 1964 to 1967 are still in post is not readily available.
Applicants may be rejected if they do not fulfil specified requirements, as to
246W
Act Section Offence Maximum term of imprisonment on summary conviction and/or on indictment Protection from Eviction Act 1964 1(3) Unlawfully enforcing right to possession of premises, withholding services etc. Summary: 6 months Cereals Marketing Act 1965 17(1) Failing to comply with requirement to be registered, to furnish information etc. Summary: 3 months 17(3) Giving false information, unlawfully disclosing information etc. Summary: 3 months Indictment: 2 years Finance Act 1965 92(4) Making false statements etc. to obtain fuel tax rebate Summary: 3 months Indictment: 2 years Control of Office and Industrial Development Act 1965 10(3) Giving false information, producing falsified documents etc. Summary: 3 months Indictment: 2 years Gas Act 1965 5(13) Carrying out controlled operations without consent of Minister or without complying with conditions Summary: 3 months Indictment: 2 years 21(5) Failing to comply with notice imposing conditions on or requiring discontinuance of, underground gas storage Summary: 3 months Indictment: 2 years Schedule 6 para. 9 Unlawfully disclosing information obtained under Act Summary: 3 months Firearms Act 1965 1 Carrying firearms with intent to commit an indictable offence or to resist arrest Indictment: 10 years 2 Carrying firearms in a public place Summary: 6 months Indictment: 5 years 3 Trespassing with firearms in a building Summary: 6 months Indictment: 5 years 4 Trespassing with firearms on land Summary: 3 months 5 Failing to hand over firearms or ammunition when required by constable Summary: 3 months 8(6) Failing to comply with conditions of registration of firearms dealer Summary: 6 months age, height, medical fitness or nationality. Other reasons for rejection are unsuitability for the duties by reason of such considerations as standard of education or character defects.