Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service staff agreed that they have the opportunity to contribute their views before decisions are made that affect them in the latest staff survey.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Annual Civil Service People Survey looks at civil servants’ attitudes to, and experience of working in government departments. In 2020, the survey ran across Government Departments, including Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), from 1 to 30 October. Ministry of Justice People Survey data for 2020 will be published on gov.uk in due course.
4,897 HMPPS staff (27% of respondents) believed that their pay was reasonable compared to people doing a similar job in other organisations in the latest survey.
We do not ask staff whether “when operational changes are made at work they were usually for the better”. However, in response to a broader question regarding all changes, 5,430 staff (30% of respondents) believed that when changes are made in their organisation they were usually for the better. Additionally, 5,552 members of staff (30% of respondents) said they had the opportunity to contribute their views before decisions are made that affect them.
HMPPS are committed to taking forward the issues raised in the People Survey to improve employee experience and wellbeing.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service staff agreed that when operational changes are made at work they were usually for the better in the latest staff survey.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Annual Civil Service People Survey looks at civil servants’ attitudes to, and experience of working in government departments. In 2020, the survey ran across Government Departments, including Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), from 1 to 30 October. Ministry of Justice People Survey data for 2020 will be published on gov.uk in due course.
4,897 HMPPS staff (27% of respondents) believed that their pay was reasonable compared to people doing a similar job in other organisations in the latest survey.
We do not ask staff whether “when operational changes are made at work they were usually for the better”. However, in response to a broader question regarding all changes, 5,430 staff (30% of respondents) believed that when changes are made in their organisation they were usually for the better. Additionally, 5,552 members of staff (30% of respondents) said they had the opportunity to contribute their views before decisions are made that affect them.
HMPPS are committed to taking forward the issues raised in the People Survey to improve employee experience and wellbeing.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service staff believed that their pay was reasonable compared to people doing a similar jobs in other organisations in the latest staff survey.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Annual Civil Service People Survey looks at civil servants’ attitudes to, and experience of working in government departments. In 2020, the survey ran across Government Departments, including Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), from 1 to 30 October. Ministry of Justice People Survey data for 2020 will be published on gov.uk in due course.
4,897 HMPPS staff (27% of respondents) believed that their pay was reasonable compared to people doing a similar job in other organisations in the latest survey.
We do not ask staff whether “when operational changes are made at work they were usually for the better”. However, in response to a broader question regarding all changes, 5,430 staff (30% of respondents) believed that when changes are made in their organisation they were usually for the better. Additionally, 5,552 members of staff (30% of respondents) said they had the opportunity to contribute their views before decisions are made that affect them.
HMPPS are committed to taking forward the issues raised in the People Survey to improve employee experience and wellbeing.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of calls to the Tackling Unacceptable Behaviour Unit have been from staff reporting acts of (a) bullying, (b) harassment, (c) victimisation and (d) discrimination since that Unit was launched.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) takes the welfare of staff extremely seriously, which is why it supports staff to access a range of helplines and resources. The Tackling Unacceptable Behaviour Unit (TUBU) was established in August 2020 and works to support staff through a confidential helpline, mediation service and programme of assessments to surface and address unacceptable behaviour. In addition, a special investigation service is being developed to deal with the most serious cases involving bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation.
Staff can also access support from HR professionals in relation to workplace conflict through the Civil Service Early Resolution Helpline (ERH). The Employee Assistance Programme PAM Assist helpline offers counselling, support and information including signposting to external sources of support. This support can relate to a wide range of work and personal issues including trauma, bereavement, bullying and harassment, Childcare/Elder care, debt, relationships, alcohol and drug misuse and many more.
There is no place for any form of unacceptable behaviour in HMPPS. Such behaviour is contrary to its core values and will not be tolerated. All allegations of unacceptable behaviour are taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken.
The volume of calls for each helpline per month received from HMPPS staff since the launch of the Tackling Unacceptable Behaviours Unit on 24 August 2020 is set out in the table below:
| Tackling Unacceptable Behaviours Unit (from 24 August 2020) | Early Resolution Helpline (from 5 Oct 2020) | PAM Assist (Data provided from 1 August 2020) |
August 2020 | 26 | Not yet launched | 314 |
September 2020 | 55 | Not yet launched | 303 |
October 2020 | 34 | 5 | 315 |
November 2020 | 36 | 3 | 306 |
December 2020 | 29 | 0 | 268 |
January 2021 | 17 | 4 | 295 |
February 2021 | 19 | 2 | 242 |
Totals | 216 | 14 | 2043 |
The breakdown of calls to the Tackling Unacceptable Behaviour Helpline in relation to (a) bullying, (b) harassment, (c) victimisation and (d) discrimination is set out in the table below:
Issue raised in call | Volume (24 Aug 2020 – 28 Feb 2021) | Percentage of all calls |
Bullying | 89 | 41% |
Harassment | 29 | 11% |
Victimisation | 8 | 4% |
Discrimination | 31 | 14% |
(Note – not all callers will disclose precise issue of concern, and other types of issue than the four categories above may be recorded, such as unfair treatment or decision)
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many calls there have been to the Tackling Unacceptable Behaviour Unit (a) confidential helpline, (b) early resolution helpline and (c) PAM assist helpline in each month since those helplines were established.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) takes the welfare of staff extremely seriously, which is why it supports staff to access a range of helplines and resources. The Tackling Unacceptable Behaviour Unit (TUBU) was established in August 2020 and works to support staff through a confidential helpline, mediation service and programme of assessments to surface and address unacceptable behaviour. In addition, a special investigation service is being developed to deal with the most serious cases involving bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation.
Staff can also access support from HR professionals in relation to workplace conflict through the Civil Service Early Resolution Helpline (ERH). The Employee Assistance Programme PAM Assist helpline offers counselling, support and information including signposting to external sources of support. This support can relate to a wide range of work and personal issues including trauma, bereavement, bullying and harassment, Childcare/Elder care, debt, relationships, alcohol and drug misuse and many more.
There is no place for any form of unacceptable behaviour in HMPPS. Such behaviour is contrary to its core values and will not be tolerated. All allegations of unacceptable behaviour are taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken.
The volume of calls for each helpline per month received from HMPPS staff since the launch of the Tackling Unacceptable Behaviours Unit on 24 August 2020 is set out in the table below:
| Tackling Unacceptable Behaviours Unit (from 24 August 2020) | Early Resolution Helpline (from 5 Oct 2020) | PAM Assist (Data provided from 1 August 2020) |
August 2020 | 26 | Not yet launched | 314 |
September 2020 | 55 | Not yet launched | 303 |
October 2020 | 34 | 5 | 315 |
November 2020 | 36 | 3 | 306 |
December 2020 | 29 | 0 | 268 |
January 2021 | 17 | 4 | 295 |
February 2021 | 19 | 2 | 242 |
Totals | 216 | 14 | 2043 |
The breakdown of calls to the Tackling Unacceptable Behaviour Helpline in relation to (a) bullying, (b) harassment, (c) victimisation and (d) discrimination is set out in the table below:
Issue raised in call | Volume (24 Aug 2020 – 28 Feb 2021) | Percentage of all calls |
Bullying | 89 | 41% |
Harassment | 29 | 11% |
Victimisation | 8 | 4% |
Discrimination | 31 | 14% |
(Note – not all callers will disclose precise issue of concern, and other types of issue than the four categories above may be recorded, such as unfair treatment or decision)
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of assaults (a) between prisoners and (b) against staff were committed during education activities in (i) YOI institutions and (ii) all prisons in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Please find data showing assaults committed during education activities in the 12 months to June 2020 in the attached table. Please note that assaults committed during education activities are a total of the assaults that, when reported, had their location flagged as "Education".
Despite the progress made, the level of violence in prisons remains too high. We are continuing work to address this by giving all staff the tools and training to help them reduce violence.
Violence in prison is a crime. Any prisoner who commits an act of violence can expect to have action taken against them.
We are spending £100 million to bolster prison security, clamping down on the weapons, drugs and mobile phones that fuel violence and crime behind bars. This is funding tough measures including x-ray body scanners and phone-blocking technology.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether vulnerable (a) prison staff and (b) prisoners will be prioritised for receipt of the covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Detailed planning is underway between Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), the NHS and public health bodies to prepare for the delivery of vaccinations in prisons. In Phase 1 of the vaccine rollout, staff and prisoners are eligible for vaccinations according to vulnerability in the same priority order as the public.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that vaccination of those at increased risk of exposure due to their occupation, including those involved in the justice system, could be a priority in the second phase. Prioritisation decisions will need to be made in line with wider prioritisation of access, and the availability of vaccines, across the community.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his Department’s policy to permit prison management to remove trade union health and safety posters from staff rooms in prisons.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
HM Prison and Probation Service values the support of its Trade Union colleagues and supports all parties in the sharing of appropriate health and safety messaging, and as such will continue working together to ensure that appropriate health and safety messages effectively reach all staff as necessary.