§ Lord Macaulay of Bragarasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the minimum educational requirements of the prison service in Scotland, how long is the normal training period for a prison officer, and what amount of training time relates to the psychology and management of prisoners.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson of Bowden)All recruitment to the prison service is at the basic prison officer level for which no formal educational requirements are laid down. Certain standards for age, conduct, height and health have, however, to be met. The initial training given to new recruits to the prison service occupies one year. It consists of a mix of formal residential training at the Scottish Prison Service College lasting eight weeks in total and on-the-job operational training at officers' home establishments. Thereafter, the training needs of officers will be regularly assessed and will be met at appropriate stages in their careers. The overall objective in the considerably enhanced training programme which is being developed for the Scottish prison service is to offer a total training provision of, on average, two weeks per officer per year. The elements of psychology and the management of prisoners contribute approximately 30 per cent. to the content of the college part of the initial recruit training programme. Further on-the-job training in these areas is provided at the recruits' home establishments. The programmes for more experienced officers differ in content for each grade but provision relating to the psychology and the management of prisoners will be made in varying degrees to meet particular needs.