Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of the starting salary of a prison officer and (b) the impact of that salary on recruitment.

Pay and progression for prison officers is determined annually through the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) process.

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is currently considering proposals for inclusion in the Government’s evidence submission to the PSPRB for the 2022/23 pay round. The adequacy of prison officer salary and progression and its impact on recruitment and retention is factored into those considerations.

The Government’s evidence will be published and submitted to the PSPRB in due course.