§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of staff employed in the Prison Service headquarters and central services on 1 January; what is the estimated change in staff numbers over the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [33442]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 20 June 1996]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 David Scott to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 21 June 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of staff employed at Prison Service headquarters.At the end of October 1995 (the latest date on which detailed figures are available) there were 2130 full time equivalent staff in post in Prison Service headquarters. The Service aims to reduce the number of staff in headquarters to around 1800 full time equivalents by October 1996 and to around 1450 by April 1999.