§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is being provided for custody officers at HMP Blakenhurst; and who is providing that training.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 16 April 1993.
HM PRISON BLAKENHURST STAFF TRAINING>
The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about the nature and provision of training for prisoner custody officers at HM Prison Blakenhurst.
The training requirement is set out in Schedule 3b of the Operational Specification which formed part of the invitation to the tender for the management of the prison. A copy of the Specification was placed in the Library of the House and I enclose a further copy of the relevant schedule.
It is for UKDS to determine how the required training is delivered and the bulk of it has been provided by their own staff. However a certain amount has been bought in, including control and restraint training from the Prison Service, and part of the First Aid training from specialist medical sources. The West Mercia police have provided an input on drug recognition and control. In addition the Chairman of the Board of Visitors and the Home Office Controller have given sessions on their respective roles and functions.