§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers were in post in each year since 1979. [11251]
§ Ms QuinThe 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.