Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether PECS prison custody officers contract payments have been amended in response to the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on their work.

PECS contractors and PECS custodial staff have continued to be paid in accordance with the contractual payment mechanism. The intention of the payment mechanism is to ensure that the PECS contractors fixed, and semi-fixed costs are met, and they have the capacity available to meet changes in demand.

A reduction in the number of prisoners handled has not resulted in a similar reduction in costs.

The contract allows for rate cards for over hours worked. Due to COVID related absences and an increase in custodial recovery work Custodial Staff have been able to obtain overtime hours on top of their contractual pay, if required to work over their contracted hours.