HC Deb 04 February 1997 vol 289 cc545-6W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given by the Prison Service to people recruited to fill governor grade positions. [13898]

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.

Establishment Type 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Acklington Category C 1 1
Albany Category B 1
Ashwell Category C 2
Aylesbury Young offender institute 1 1
Bedford Male local 2 1 2
Belmarsh Male local 1 2
Birmingham Male local 1 3 1 1 2 1
Blakenhurst Male local 1 2
Blundeston Category B 2
Brinsford Male remand centre 1 1 1
Bristol Male local 3 1 1 2 1 1
Brixton Male local 6 1 1 1 3 1
Buckley Hall Category C 1
Bullingdon Male local 1 1 1
Camp Hill Category C 1
Canterbury Male local 1
Cardiff Male local 2 2
Chelmsford Male local 1 1 1
Dartmoor Category B 1 1 1 2
Deerbolt Young offender institution 1

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 4 February 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the training given to those recruited to governor grades. On promotion to Governor 5 from Principal Officer it is mandatory for all newly promoted governor 5s to attend a two week New Governor 5 course, which deals with general prison management issues and a one week Incident Command course. They attend further courses which help them deal specifically with the demands of their post. The Prison Service also recruits individuals onto the Accelerated Promotion Scheme (APS). Those selected for the APS, who are not already serving prison officers, undergo mandatory Prison Officer initial training to enable them to serve as prison officers for one year. They then undertake management training in the form of a seven week Principal Officer course which deals with prison procedures and introduces management training. APS students attend a one week course which gives a non-operational overview of the Prison Service and a one week course on the operational responsibilities of a governor 5. They attend the Incident Command course and a series of developmental workshops as well as role specific training. In addition the Prison Service is piloting a cross hierarchical move scheme in which experienced individuals have been appointed to governor grades. These individuals have received specific training to meet their individual needs to perform in the governor grades.