HC Deb 22 July 1996 vol 282 cc49-50W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the minimum staffing levels required to ensure that the protection of the public and staff and prisoner safety is maintained at(a) all privately operated prisons and (b) for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons; [38181]

(2) if he will list the minimum permitted staffing levels at (a) all privately operated prisons for the next financial year and (b) for the prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period; [38179]

(3) if he will list the lowest and highest staffing levels at (a) all privately operated prisons since commencing operation and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period; [38177]

(4) if he will list the minimum permitted staffing levels at (a)all privately operated prisons and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons in relation to the number of prisoners held; [38180]

(5) if he will list the average staffing levels at (a)all privately operated prisons since commencing operation and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period; [38176]

(6) if he will list the minimum permitted staffing levels at (a)all privately operated prisons since commencing operation and (b)for the Prison Service operated comparator group prisons for the same period. [38178]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 22 July 1996The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about staffing levels at contracted prisons and their public-service comparators. Where minimum staffing levels are set by the governor of a Prison Service establishment this is done in consultation with the area manager concerned after consultation with staff. They are set at a level to ensure staff and inmate safety, security and control. Operational requirements will differ depending on a number of factors including the build and function of the prison and the size and mix of the inmate population. Contracts for the four privately-managed prisons also do not prescribe minimum staffing levels. Staffing levels and the deployment of staff are therefore a matter for the contractor concerned who must meet the standards required by the contract to ensure safety, security and control. For these reasons, I cannot provide minimum required staffing levels. Figures for the average, the highest and the lowest staffing levels at prisons are not available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.