Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Shannon Excerpts
Tuesday 24th April 2018

(6 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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There is already a proper plan to address that point about staffing. That is why the numbers are going up, and that is the point I am setting out. The numbers are at a five-year high. We are ahead of what we promised in October 2016. I am pleased that we are doing that and we will continue to recruit new prison officers—net new prison officers—into the Prison Service.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
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What additional training will these new officers be given to deal with the scourge of the availability of drugs in our prisons throughout the United Kingdom?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. We are refreshing the way that training works for prison officers. It is very important that we deal with the issue of drugs, which has been a real game-changer in its effect on prisons. As we change and refresh our training process, we need to ensure that new prison officers have the skills they need to deal with drugs.