§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers live in prison quarters or in other accommodation provided by the service; and what proportion of those are subject to early retirement or are on a year-to-year contract.
§ Dr. SummerskillI regret that detailed information about the number of officers housed in official accommodation is not readily available and could not be collected without disproportionate cost and effort; but there is in England and Wales official accommodation for some 10,600 officers, including nearly 10,000 married quarters.
1,031 serving officers are at present over the age of 55 and subject to annual review, but, as I have explained, the number living in official quarters is not known. It is not possible to say how many officers will retire early.
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§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many housing authorities outside the GLC provide automatic transfer accommodation for prison officers reaching retirement age, or leaving the service.
§ Dr. SummerskillNone, in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers had to find alternative accommodation on leaving the service in 1974 and 1975 and will have to do so in 1976; and what proportion of these were, and will be, rehoused by housing authorities.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn England and Wales, 617 and 667 prison officers left the service in 1974 and 1975, respectively, and we expect that about 600 will do so this year. I regret that detailed information about the occupation of official quarters is not readily available, and could not be collected without disproportionate cost and effort; but about 75 per cent. of all serving officers live in official quarters.
I have no information about the number rehoused by local housing authorities.