§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been recruited and employed within the Prison Service during the last 12 months. [51147]
§ Beverley Hughes363 prison officers were recruited by the Prison Service during 2001–02. This figure excludes current staff who re-graded to prison officer during the year but includes staff beginning on the accelerated promotion scheme.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unpaid hours of time off in lieu of hours worked by prison officers at Wandsworth prison there are. [51146]
§ Beverley HughesThe number of hours of time off in lieu (TOIL) owed to staff at Wandsworth prison is approximately 5,130 hours for 305 staff.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed in the Prison Service as(a) prison officers and (b) operational support grades in each of the last five years. [50814]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 18 April 2002]: The information is contained in the table. Officer grades include; prison officers, senior officers and principal officers. Operational support grades (OSG) include prison auxiliaries and night patrols who are able to re-grade to prison officer grades. 438W
As at 31 March Officer grades Operational support grades 1997 23,058 3,925 1998 23,444 5,207 1999 23,875 5,687 2000 24,090 5,939 2001 23,777 5,956 2002 23,052 6,669
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reviews of prison officer/staff ratios have taken place, and when, in the last 12 months. [51144]
§ Beverley HughesThe Prison Service publishes the staff to prisoner ratios for unified staff on an annual basis. A partial review of prison officer staff to prisoner ratios was issued on 23 October 2001. A record of local reviews of prison officer staff ratios is not available centrally.