MPs take evidence and launch survey for prison workforce inquiry
The Committee scrutinises the government’s management of prisons in the first evidence session in its inquiry into the state of the prison workforce and starting a survey of prison officers about their jobs.
Meeting details
The government is planning to increase the number of prison places in the UK by about 20,000 – for which it says it will need 5,000 additional prison officers by 2026. But the authorities currently face high numbers of prison officers leaving the service.
The Committee's inquiry will explore the reasons for the high turnover of staff and the steps taken by the government to take on and retain new recruits.
MPs are expected to ask the witnesses at the session - representatives of prison officers and prison governors - about the morale of prison staff and how this relates to issues such as pay, working conditions and retirement age. They may also ask how the conditions for prison officers compare with those of other ‘emergency workers’ such as police officers and firefighters.
Alongside the evidence session, the Committee will distribute a survey to prison officers. The survey asks what officers think about subjects including their salary, training and career prospects. Questions on issues such as diversity, mental health and trust in management will also be part of the research. The results of the survey being conducted by the Justice Committee will be published in due course.