§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the post of chief education officer for the prison service has been down graded from assistant secretary level to that of senior principal; what changes in duties and responsibilities the downgrading of this post signifies; if the downgrading of this post indicates that prison education is to be given a lower priority; and what implications it has for the management structure of the chief education officer's branch.
§ Mr. MellorThe post—which was not previously graded at assistant secretary (grade 5) level but was pitched as a departmental grade in between grade 5 and grade 6 — is being brought into the unified grading structure at level 6. The alternative, which would have been to upgrade the post, was not considered appropriate. There will be no change in the duties of the post or in the management structure of the chief education officer' sbranch, nor does this signify any change in the priority given to prison education.