Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the ability of prison officers to continue frontline work beyond the age of 60.

HMPPS takes very seriously the health and safety of all staff working within prisons.

All prison officers who joined the service after April 2001 must pass an annual fitness test in order to remain a prison officer. HMPPS recruits staff up to the normal pension age of sixty-five and has employed new Prison Officers in their sixties, who have passed the fitness test and are performing in their roles effectively. In addition, many staff who have the right to retire at sixty choose to work beyond their retirement age.

The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS supports all their staff, especially those working in an operational environment. Staff also have access to medical professionals to ensure continued physical and mental wellbeing.