Lord Morrisasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the progress being made in the implementation of new working practices in the prison service, known as Fresh Start.
The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)Seventy-three establishments and part of HM Remand Centre Pucklechurch are now on Fresh Start. Firm plans are made for the rest of Pucklechurch Remand Centre and another 23 establishments to move to full or transitional Fresh Start working during November, mostly on 1st November. Local discussions continue about moving the remaining 21 establishments on to Fresh Start. I know that prison service managers are doing their best to iron out problems so that these establishments can move to Fresh Start at the earliest possible date.
We are continuing to aim to have every establishment on full Fresh Start working by the end of February 1988. To this end we plan to recruit a total of about 1,800 new officers in 1987–88. This will use our two training schools to full capacity throughout the year. In addition we are hiring two police training centres in which to train 160 staff. After allowing for wastage and the staff needed for new accommodation, this should produce about 750 additional staff for Fresh Start. The balance will come from a mix of redeployment and the recruitment of civilians, prison auxiliaries and night patrols.
The next stage of the implementation process is to establish as objectively as possible what has been the outcome of every aspect of the change to Fresh Start, including staffing levels. Information will be collected on every establishment and visits will be paid to a representative group of 10 establishments. It will be open to the trade union side to make their views known to the evaluation team. This work will be done in November, evaluated quickly and the results reviewed by senior management in the first part of December.
I recognise that the change to Fresh Start is a formidable task for the prison service. There is accumulating evidence that we are set on the right course. I am satisfied with progress so far and look forward to full implementation relatively soon