Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department made of the role of a prison officer prior to raising the retirement age to 68.

We value our hardworking prison staff and offer access to medical professionals and an employee assistance programme to ensure continued physical and mental wellbeing.

The policy and rules that set the pension age for Prison Officers under the Civil Service Pension Scheme is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office and responsibility is not devolved down to HMPPS.

I meet the Prison Officer’s Association and other Trade Unions to discuss a range of issues, including pension age. I will be meeting with them again to discuss this issue further and remain aware of the position.