Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Prison Officers: Pension Age

10 May 2023 · 4 other contributors · 3,513 words

Opened by Gordon Henderson Con Sittingbourne and Sheppey

Responding minister: Damian Hinds

Justice & CourtsEmployment

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Gordon Henderson raised concerns about prison officers: pension age in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about disparity in pension rights between prison officers and police/firefighters, with prison officers required to work until age 68 for full pension compared to 60 for the others.
  • Urges the Government to meet with the Prison Officers Association to discuss retiring prison officers at age 60, similar to other services.
  • Minister acknowledges the importance of prison officers in public safety and rehabilitation, highlighting their role as vital key workers.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Government to meet with the Prison Officers Association (POA) to discuss a realistic way for prison officers to retire at age 60, similar to police and firefighters. I propose that both parties should enter into meaningful negotiations without prejudice or pre-determined positions to find a cost-effective solution.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Gordon Henderson Con Sittingbourne and Sheppey

I am concerned about the disparity in pension rights between prison officers and their counterparts in the police and fire services. Despite the Prison Act 1952 stating that prison officers have all the powers, authority, protection, and privileges of police officers, they are required to work until age 68 for a full pension, while police and firefighters can retire at 60. This is unfair given the unique nature of prison officers' roles, which include acting as social workers, teachers, dispute resolvers, and in some cases, as police officers and firefighters within the prison environment. There has been an increase in violent incidents against prison staff, with assaults on prison officers rising dramatically.

Other contributors (4)
  • Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington

    Questions the feasibility of expecting 68-year-olds to handle dangerous criminals, citing differences with other protected services where the pension age is lower. Mentions Prime Minister's Question Time as an example. The Minister has made a logical case, though I disagree with his points. He should commit to constructive discussions between the Prison Officers' Association and his team before concluding his speech.

  • Janet Daby Lab Lewisham East

    Recognises the hon. Member's persistence on this issue and inquires about what the Minister would say to the Prison Officers Association regarding retirement age. There is a serious retention and recruitment problem with prison officers, as they are not looking to remain within the Prison Service because of the retirement age. The Justice Committee recently heard from prison officers expressing this concern.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Congratulates the hon. Gentleman for introducing the debate, raises concerns about prison officers' mental and physical health impacts due to working conditions until 68, and suggests aligning retirement age with that of police officers.

  • Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd

    Co-chairs the justice unions parliamentary group; highlights the negative impact of the current pension arrangements on recruitment and retention in prisons, considering it unfair. The POA does not understand the comparison with seafarers and it is difficult for anyone in the Chamber to do so. The Treasury's cynical estimation that many prison officers will leave before 68 due to fitness tests or injury/illness deserves a response.

Government Response

Damian Hinds

It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mrs Cummins. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Gordon Henderson) for securing this important debate, as it highlights the vital role that prison officers play in keeping the public safe and rehabilitating prisoners. Prison staff are vital key workers, with many going above and beyond every day to keep safe the public, their colleagues and those committed by the courts to the care of His Majesty's Prison and Probations Service. The pension age for prison officers is linked to their pension arrangements, which are part of the civil service pension scheme with a state pension age between 65 and 68 depending on date of birth. This was set following recommendations in the 2011 Hutton report, introduced by the Public Service Pensions Act 2013, and applies to all public sector schemes. The role of prison officer is physically demanding, but comparisons with other roles such as firefighters and police officers show they pay more into their pension scheme. Offers were made in 2013 and 2017 for prison officers to purchase a lower pension age from state pension age to 65, which was rejected at ballot. HMPPS takes health and safety very seriously, providing onsite care teams, an employee assistance programme, trauma risk management programmes, and the 'Looking After Our People: The Prison Service Employee Package'. Many factors affect retention, including remuneration, benefits, working conditions, but even with a pension age set to mirror individual's state pension age, the civil service scheme remains one of the best pension schemes available. Retention is important, hence why constructive discussions and accountability in Westminster Hall debates are valuable.

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