Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Prison Service Pay Review Body Recommendation 3

Tuesday 2 February 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government accepted six out of seven recommendations from the Prison Service Pay Review Body in July 2020, leading to a pay increase for prison staff.
  • The decision to reject recommendation 3 was based on considerations of affordability and value for money.
  • Minister emphasized measures to protect prison officers, including rolling out body-worn cameras and providing 24/7 counselling support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Justice & Courts Employment
Context

The Prison Service Pay Review Body recommended a pay rise for prison officers to address recruitment, retention, and morale issues. The government rejected this recommendation.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effect on prison officer recruitment, retention, and morale following the Department's decision to reject the Prison Service Pay Review Body's recommendation 3?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

In July 2020, the Government accepted six out of seven recommendations made by the Prison Service Pay Review Body. This led to a pay increase for prison staff. In rejecting recommendation 3, the impact on recruitment, retention and staff morale were carefully considered alongside affordability and value for money.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific details about the assessment of the effects on recruitment, retention, and morale as requested.

How: Carefully Considered Alongside Affordability And Value For Money

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Q2 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Justice & Courts
Context

The Prison Service Pay Review Body recommended a £3,000 pay rise for band 3 prison officers to improve recruitment, retention, and morale.

Question

The Government's experts recommended a £3,000 pay rise for band 3 prison officers. Will the Minister explain what exceptional circumstances justify not paying band 3 prison officers what they deserve?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

To repeat, I recognise the very difficult work that prison officers are doing up and down the country at this time. The pay proposals that we have accepted deliver an increase in pay, and as I mentioned, we took into account factors including affordability and value for money at this time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific exceptional circumstances justifying the rejection of the recommendation.

How: Affordability And Value For Money

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Q3 Lyn Brown Lab
Justice & Courts
Context

Violence in prisons has increased, leading to the pay review body recommending a one-off increase for band 3 prison officers to retain staff.

Question

The Minister knows that the pay review body recommended a one-off increase to wages in band 3 as a job retention package. She knows that staff and vulnerable prisoners will be at greater risk if more skilled officers leave. Why did she choose to ignore that recommendation?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

I would like to address the point about violence in our prisons. Violence in the adult male estate has gone down over recent months, but it is too high and we must do more to protect prison officers. We are rolling out body-worn cameras and providing 24/7 counselling support for staff.

Not addressed: The answer does not address why the recommendation was ignored.

How: Addressing Violence In Prisons Instead Of Pay

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