§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on helping the families of a serving prison officer who dies, who are living in prison accommodation, to ensure that accommodation continues to be available to the family; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldWe cannot undertake to provide accommodation for widows of deceased prison officers, but we treat such cases sympathetically and do not enforce eviction until we are satisfied that they have obtained alternative accommodation.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of new prison officers received into the prison services in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldIn the last three years the recruitment and training of new prison officers has reached unprecedented levels. The number of new prison officers posted to establishments in each of these years was:
Number 1987–88 1,644 1988–89 2,372 1989–90 1,555 Of those officers 3,321 were recruited for the opening of new accommodation for inmates and to meet in full management's commitment under the "fresh start" framework agreement; and 2,270 were recruited to replace wastage.