Oral Answers to Questions

Craig Tracey Excerpts

Tuesday 24th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rory Stewart]

This is a long-standing issue—it was true even in 2008-09—that consistently, the judiciary and magistrates have expressed concerns about community sentences. We need to do much more to build confidence, but the fact that this has been going on for nearly 10 years shows that it is a very challenging thing to do. Training will be an important part of that.

[Craig Tracey (North Warwickshire) (Con)]

3. What progress his Department is making on recruiting 2,500 new prison officers.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

6. What progress his Department is making on recruiting 2,500 new prison officers.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Gauke)]

Retaining and recruiting engaged and motivated staff is critical to delivering the solutions to drive improvement across the service. Between the end of October 2016 and the end of March 2018, we have increased prison officer numbers by 3,111 full-time equivalent staff. This is already significantly over our target of 2,500 additional staff by the end of December 2018. Investing in the frontline is vital for safety, rehabilitation and security, which is why we are spending £100 million a year in additional prison officers.[Official Report, 1 May 2018, Vol. 640, c. 1MC.]

[Craig Tracey]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer and commend him for the work that he has done on recruitment. Can he confirm when we can expect to see the new officers on the landings?

[Mr Gauke]

I can tell my hon. Friend that 90% of the 3,111 will be on the landings by the summer, and all will be in place and operational by the end of the year.