Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Prison Officers: Pension Age

Tuesday 11 November 2025 · 2 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

  • Ministerial Questions addressed prison officers' pension age concerns on 2025-11-11
  • Government recognises pension age issue and plans to engage with trade unions
  • Minister agrees to review pension age due to harder working conditions in prisons

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Kelly Foy Lab City of Durham
Justice & Courts Employment
Context

The Prison Officers Association launched its '68 is Too Late' pensions report, which highlights the difficulties prison officers face in working until they are almost 70 years old and its impact on morale. The report includes a survey of POA members.

Question

Prison officers describe how unrealistic and cruel it is to expect them to walk the landings until they are almost 70 years old, with negative effects on morale. Does the Minister accept that resolving the pension crisis for prison staff should be a top priority for fixing our jails?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Jake Richards)

The Government recognise that pension age is an important issue and will continue to engage with recognised trade unions and POA representatives. The work and working conditions of prison officers are getting harder, and the Government is committed to helping them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific commitment on lowering the pension age for prison officers.

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Q2 Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry
Justice & Courts Employment
Context

The existing retirement age for prison officers and the increase in violent offenders and illegal substances in prisons raise concerns about the suitability of the current pension age.

Question

Given the current situation with an increasing number of violent offenders and illegal substances in prisons, does the Minister agree that it is urgent to review the pension age for prison officers who are looking to retire earlier?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Jake Richards)

It is absolutely right that we continue to have discussions with relevant trade unions about the pension age. We understand the challenges faced by prison officers, including harder work conditions due to an increase in violent offenders and illegal substances.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to reviewing or lowering the pension age for prison officers.

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