Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Diana Johnson and Sam Gyimah

Tuesday 7th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

The answer is very straightforward: mutual assistance exists for prisons to support each other in both the private and public sectors.

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

Staff morale is very important to safety and security in prisons, so I wish to ask the Minister again about the flexibilities that I understand governors will have on pay increases from 1 April. Will that mean that we could end up with prison officers in Hull being paid less than prison officers down the road in Leeds? How will that affect morale?

[Mr Gyimah]

No. As I said in my answer to a previous question, the matter of Prison Service pay will be decided nationally. The independent pay review body will also submit evidence throughout this year. That will still be the case where we have governor freedoms, but, in giving governors their budgets, they will be able to decide on the mix of staff and how to deploy them.

Prison Officers Association: Withdrawal from Voluntary Tasks

Debate between Diana Johnson and Sam Gyimah

Tuesday 28th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the working conditions for prison officers and the estates in which we house prisoners are important to improving safety in our prisons. I look forward to the new prison in Wellingborough opening shortly.

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

Given that 15 of the most dangerous prisoners have been transferred to Hull following the Birmingham riot earlier this year, that prison officers are saying that they fear for their safety, and that the prison was in lockdown in December, does the Minister understand why morale is so low, especially when the pay award is not going to areas such as Hull? Will the governor there have the flexibility come April to give these hard-working prison officers that pay increase?

[Mr Gyimah]

Yes, prison governors will have control over their budgets and will be able to make decisions about staffing and how their staff are deployed from this April. We have to be absolutely clear. The POA says that this unlawful strike action is about pay. However, only last week we announced not only promotion opportunities but increased pay for vast numbers of prison officers across the country.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Diana Johnson and Sam Gyimah

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

All eligible Polish nationals have been identified and deportation orders sought. We have referred cases to the Polish courts, and transfers will take place once Polish legal procedures have been completed.

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

Does the Minister think the number of prisoner transfers will go up or down after we leave the EU?

[Mr Gyimah]

We have already been in touch with the Department for Exiting the European Union on prisoner transfer agreements, but, as I said in my opening answer, that is one way of removing prisoners from this country. The early removal scheme is another way, and we have been successful at removing a lot of prisoners through that scheme.