§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action to implement the recommendations of the fifth conference of directors of prison administrations at Strasbourg that specialist prison staff should, in addition to dealing with prisoners, hold frequent exchanges of view with prison staff, and that staff should receive in-service training in order to undertake specialist tasks such as group counselling.
§ Mr. MayhewSpecialist and non-specialist prison staff frequently exchange views both about individual prisoners and about broader penal issues.
Where operational circumstances allow, prison staff are encouraged to undertake social work and counselling tasks and are given the training and support necessary.