§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase staff participation within the police forces, the fire services and the prison service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe police have long-established arrangements for staff participation at both force and national level, and these are reviewed as necessary.
In the fire service further developments await the completion of studies into the scope for the extension of industrial democracy in the public services which were announced by the Minister for the Civil Service in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wriggles-worth) on 11th February 1976—[Vol. 905, c. 240–1].
For the prison service, the Whitley system provides for full consultation at departmental and local level on all matters affecting conditions of service, and the prison service, like the rest of the Civil Service, is included in the studies announced on 11th February.