Written question asked by Chris Mullin (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 March 1997. It was answered by Ann Widdecombe (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 March 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office;Prison Service

Question: Pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Burton of 18th February, Official Report, column 531W, on prison staff ratios between 1970 and 1996, if he will estimate how much of the change in the ratio is due to (a) the changes to prison officers' overtime arrangements and (b) to other factors, indicating such other factors. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt of Prison Service.

Answer: Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Burton (Sir I. Lawrence) of 18 February, Official Report, column 531, on prison staff ratios between 1970 and 1996, if he will estimate how much of the change in the ratio is due to (a) the changes to prison officers' overtime arrangements and (b) to other factors, indicating such other factors. [20708] Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Chris Mullin, dated 20 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question seeking further information about Prison Service staff:prisoner ratios. As the Director General indicated in his reply to Sir Ivan Lawrence in February, the fall in the staff:prisoner ratio reflects the change in prison officer working practices and the reduction in their hours worked. I regret that it is not possible to estimate how much of the change in the ratio is due to any single factor.

Secondary information