HL Deb 02 July 1997 vol 581 cc34-5WA
The Earl of Longford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What increase they estimate in the number of people working in the Prison Service between 1997 and 2005.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Future trends in staffing levels are difficult to predict accurately, because a rapid increase in posts is required for new accommodation as it opens, while elsewhere staffing levels may need to reduce to achieve efficiency targets. Our best estimate is that there will be a net increase in staff numbers during 1997–98 of just over 1,000. Governors have recently been asked to draw up detailed staffing profiles for the next four years based on the indicative local budgets, and this should generate more reliable four-year staffing projections by November 1997.