§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of new recruits to the prison service in Britain for each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 and to the latest available date in 1988.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe information requested, for England and Wales only, is as follows:
Prison Officers 1 April 1985–31 March 1986 997 1 April 1986–31 March 1987 934 1 April 1987–31 March 1988 1,664 1 April 1988–31 October 19881 1,568 1 Latest available date.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time it takes to recruit prison officers from receipt of first application to the time of training.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggAbout nine months. The time taken in individual cases depends on a number of factors, including the availability of personal and employers' references and the timing of training courses. It is at present lengthening, because the number of suitable applicants exceeds the service's immediate requirements for new recruits.