HC Deb 25 March 2004 vol 419 c1018W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many minority ethnic prison officers( a) joined and (b) left the Prison Service in each of the last five years; [162362]

(2) how many minority ethnic prison officers have resigned from the Prison Service within (a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years of starting their employment in each of the last five years. [162363]

Paul Goggins

Information relating to the total number of minority ethnic prison officers who joined and left the Prison Service in each of the last five years is contained in the following table. The figures include existing Prison Service staff who converted to the prison officer grade during the period, and are based on voluntary declarations by staff.

Minority Ethnic Prison Officers
Number of recruits and conversions to Prison Officer Number of Prison Officers leaving the Service
Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total
1999 53 5.2 26 3.1
2000 78 7.5 26 2.9
2001 36 7.6 38 2.8
2002 108 6.7 50 4.0
2003 140 5.9 60 4.3

Information on the number of minority ethnic prison officers who resigned from the Prison Service between 1 August 2000 and 31 December 2003 during their first two years of service is given in the following table.

Minority Ethnic Prison Officers
Resigned within six months of appointment Resigned between six and 12 months of appointment Resigned between one and two years of appointment
August to December 2000 2
2001 5
2002 3 1
2003 2 1

Information relating to length of service for staff who left the Service prior to August 2000 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.