HC Deb 29 July 1997 vol 299 c148W
Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers were in post in each year since 1979. [11251]

Ms Quin

The information required is given in the table.

Prison officers in post each year since 1979
Number
1979 11,138
1980 11,225
1981 12,192
1982 12,198
1983 12,312
1984 12,713
1985 13,022
1986 13,336
1987 119,072
1988 18,039
1989 19,629
1990 20,785
1991 21,421
1992 23,029
1993 23,994
1994 23,756
1995 24,237
1996 24,398
1997 223,058
1 The increase between 1986 and 1987 reflects the change in prison officer working practices and the reduction in their hours worked.
2The reduction from 1996 to 1997 can be partly explained by the fact that prison officers left under the voluntary early severance scheme.

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