HC Deb 28 February 1989 vol 148 cc104-5W
Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the removal allowances granted to prison officers in the last year before their abolition.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Since May 1984 newly joined prison officers have not qualified for payment of removal allowances on taking up their first appointment after initial training. The cost of removal allowances paid to new entrant prison officers in the last year before abolition was £2.3 million. Removal allowances are still paid to established prison officers in accordance with the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code when they are transferred at public expense.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many early resignations there have been from the prison service by area in the latest available year; and what reasons were given for such resignations.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

During 1988 a total of 319 staff of all grades resigned from the prison service before minimum retirement age. The figures for each region were:

Number
Midland 46
North 81
South-East 144
South-West 48

Information about reasons for resignation is not available.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average annual number of hours worked by prison officers prior to the introduction of Fresh Start; and what is the figure for prison officers working under Fresh Start at the latest available date.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Before the introduction of Fresh Start, prison officers worked on average 56 hours per week. The equivalent figure for 1988–89 is 46.6 hours. From 1 April this year no prison officer will work more than an average of 45 hours per week and this will reduce progressively in subsequent years so that from 1 April 1992 all officers will work an average 39-hour week.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects increases in prison officer staffing levels to reach a level equivalent to half the capacity represented by the reduction in annual working hours of prison officers to be achieved.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The undertaking under the framework agreement to replace with additional staff half of the hours lost as a result of the transition to a shorter working week is already being implemented. We are making additonal new recruits available annually before each decrease in hours. This process will continue until the end of the framework period on 1 April 1992.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many newly trained prison officers applied for a posting(a) in London and were posted elsewhere and (b) outside London and were posted in London in the latest available year.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Of the 2,743 officers who joined the prison service in the year ending 31 January 1989, 441 were posted to London, having expressed a preference to be posted to another part of the country. All those who expressed a preference for a London posting were posted there.