§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's plans are for increasing staff in the prison service; what would be the cost in salaries and related expenditure; and what is the current ratio of staff to offenders.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:The White Paper"The Government's Expenditure Plans 1978–79 to 1981–82 "—Cmnd. 7049—includes the following provision for increases in the total average number of non-industrial staff in the prison service in England and Wales by comparison with the figures for 1977–78:
Staff numbers Financial provision (£ million) 1977–78 20,130 115.2 1978–79 21,241 118.2 1979–80 21,827 119.5 The current ratio of non-industrial staff to inmates in England and Wales is 1:2.1.