Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Blenkinsop Excerpts

Tuesday 7th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

15. What progress the Government have made on recruiting more prison staff.

[Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab)]

16. What steps she is taking to increase recruitment and retention of prison officers.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Elizabeth Truss)]

In November, we announced a £100 million investment to increase prison officer numbers by 2,500. We are on target with that recruitment, and I can tell the hon. Lady today that 700 officers are currently in training—a record number.

--- Later in debate ---

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are creating an additional 2,000 positions, which will be paid around £30,000. They will be available in his local area and in Durham, because it is vital not only that we ensure that we have enough staff—we are recruiting 2,500 prison officers—but that we retain our highly valued existing staff right across the country.

[Tom Blenkinsop]

I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Research by the Community union found that the main barrier to retention was not pay but safety. Prison officers in both private and public prisons feel unprepared, isolated and undermined. Will the Government conduct a complete review of the training, support and development given to prison officers and act on Community’s call for a set of adequate minimum safety standards?

[Elizabeth Truss]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely correct that prison officers have raised concerns about safety. We are employing more prison officers, so that one officer will have a case load of six offenders, which will help to keep prisons safe and, importantly, turn people’s lives around. We are reviewing training and the career structure for prison officers, ensuring that there are opportunities for promotion and to take on leadership roles.