§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prison workers receive an environmental allowance; whether prison education workers receive such an allowance; whether the money paid to those contracted to deliver prison education includes an element to pay environmental allowances; and if he will review these prison education contracts to ensure that the conditions under which prison education lecturers operate are taken into account. [40654]
§ Beverley HughesPrison environmental allowances are paid only to nursing and pharmacy grades employed under national health service Whitley terms and conditions. No other directly employed Prison Service staff receive an environmental allowance. Those contracted through a third party to deliver education do not qualify for an environmental allowance from the Prison Service. The composition of pay rates for staff employed by third party contractors is a matter for the contractor. What the Prison Service is buying is the provision of a range of education services to a particular standard and volume.
§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms exist for prison education workers to appeal against the decision of prison governors to exclude them on the grounds of a breach of prison rules and regulations; and what plans the Government and Prison Service have concerning such mechanisms. [40413]
§ Beverley HughesPrison governors have a statutory right to exclude any representative of the education contractor from their establishment on the grounds of maintaining good order and discipline or security. The 1227W contractor is required to co-operate with any investigation relating to security and to make any staff available to be interviewed as part of such an investigation. Education workers have the right to representation either by the contractor or by a third party acceptable to both the contractor and establishment.