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<p>In answer to the Right Honourable Gentleman, we do take any health and safety matters
raised seriously and particularly so in the context of prison safety where I have
been clear as to this being our priority. It is unlawful for prison officers to take
industrial action and that includes the example provided in the question. Such action
immediately places the safety of staff and prisoners at risk. I hope that the Right
Honourable gentleman would agree that the right way to deal with any health and safety
grievance raised by prison officers is through the continuation of local dialogue
and then potentially further discussion at a regional and national level if an agreed
way forward cannot be found. We are, for example, currently working constructively
with the Prison Officers Association to address a number of health and safety actions
which were discussed at a national level and jointly agreed in November 2016.</p>
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