§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase the number of prison officers at high security prisons where long hours of overtime are having to be worked.
§ Mr. MellorWherever possible, additional staff are provided to bring prisons closer to their authorised staffing levels and so reduce the need to rely on overtime working, a need which is not confined to high security prisons. Since May 1979 the Government have authorised growth of nearly 1,800 in the number of prison officers al: all prison department establishments and in the period up to April 1984 there will be a further increase of 550.