§ Mr. Neil TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prison officers are from black and ethnic minorities; and what is the proportion of those employed in prisons operated by private companies. [14196]
§ Beverley HughesThe Home Secretary's Race Equality Employment Targets Second Annual Report was published on 13 November. On 13 March 2001, minority ethnic staff made up 3.7 per cent. of the Prison Service's 43,800 staff and 2.6 per cent. of the operational work force. There were 18,720 prison officers of which 1.7 per cent. were black and 1.2 per cent. were from other minority ethnic backgrounds. There were also 1,456 Prison Custody Officers employed in privately operated prisons, of which 2.1 per cent. were black and 1.2 per cent. were from other minority ethnic backgrounds.
By 30 September 2001 the proportion of minority ethnic staff in the service's work force rose to 3.8 per cent.