§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total of prison officers in each of the last three years and what number is required following the Mountbatten recommendations; and what training is at present being given to prison officers in rehabilitative and other social skills.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe number of prison officers in post in England and Wales, including men and women and established and unestablished officers, was 7,468 at the end of 1964, 7,575 at the end of 1965 and 7,991 at the end 445W of 1966. It is not possible to isolate the precise increase required by the recommendations of the Mountbatten Report; but present needs are for an additional 1,300 prison officers, and an additional 600 will be needed over the next 18 months in order to staff new prison facilities.
The development of rehabilitative and other social skills is a fundamental aim of all initial and in-service courses at all staff training establishments.