With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO\u2019s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information.<\/p>
<\/p>
All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.<\/p>
As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "190556"} , {"_value" : "190557"} , {"_value" : "190560"} , {"_value" : "190561"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:05:18.043Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisons: Private Sector"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2018 to Question 172523 on Prisons: Private Sector, what information his Department holds on individual prison custody officers approved under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dwyfor Meirionnydd"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Liz Saville Roberts"} ], "uin" : "190939"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006066", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006066/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 October 2018 (PQ 180116).<\/p>
The honourable member will recall that I expressed my concerns on the sentence given to Mr Rajab in my written statement of 21 February. I also reiterated the UK's call for Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all its citizens, in line with international obligations.<\/p>
Our Embassy in Bahrain has closely monitored the trials of Mr Rajab. Officials from the Embassy regularly attend Mr Rajab's court hearings, including the handing down of the latest appeal verdict. We have raised the case at senior levels as part of the UK's ongoing open dialogue with Bahrain. I am aware that there is now an opportunity for Mr Rajab's legal team to apply for an appeal through the judicial system. My officials will continue to monitor the case closely.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:26:08.677Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nabeel Rajab"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of the case against Mr Nabeel Rajab; and what representations his Department has made to the Bahraini Government on Mr Rajab.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4573", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tooting"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rosena Allin-Khan"} ], "uin" : "190949"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006067", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006067/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
791(1)<\/sup> <\/strong>people were released from prison, from determinate and indeterminate sentences, on 22 December 2017.<\/p> <\/p> Of those 791, 98<\/strong> were recalled within one month of their release date.<\/p> <\/p> 1,777(1)<\/sup><\/strong> people were released from prison, from determinate and indeterminate sentences, between 18 December and 22 December 2017 (inclusive).<\/p> <\/p> Of those 1,777, 200<\/strong> were recalled within one month of their release date.<\/p> <\/p> (1) <\/strong>The number of offenders released do not include those re-released following recall.<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Public protection is our priority and recall is used to ensure that offenders on licence who present a high risk of harm to the public or are at risk of re-offending are returned to custody as quickly as possible.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "190797"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:17:50.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisoners' Release"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were released from prison on 22 December 2017; and how many of those people were recalled within one month of release.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Hanson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Delyn"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Hanson"}
], "uin" : "190796"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006068", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006068/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 791(1)<\/sup> <\/strong>people were released from prison, from determinate and indeterminate sentences, on 22 December 2017.<\/p> <\/p> Of those 791, 98<\/strong> were recalled within one month of their release date.<\/p> <\/p> 1,777(1)<\/sup><\/strong> people were released from prison, from determinate and indeterminate sentences, between 18 December and 22 December 2017 (inclusive).<\/p> <\/p> Of those 1,777, 200<\/strong> were recalled within one month of their release date.<\/p> <\/p> (1) <\/strong>The number of offenders released do not include those re-released following recall.<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Public protection is our priority and recall is used to ensure that offenders on licence who present a high risk of harm to the public or are at risk of re-offending are returned to custody as quickly as possible.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "190796"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:17:51.007Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisoners' Release"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were released from prison between 18 and 22 December 2017; and how many of those people were recalled within one month of release.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Hanson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Delyn"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Hanson"}
], "uin" : "190797"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006069", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006069/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is extracted from the most recent data available and is detailed in the table attached.<\/p> <\/p> Prisoners are released when they have a statutory entitlement to be released once they have reached their automatic release date, or are released on a discretionary basis by the Parole Board, the Secretary of State or through early release on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) by prison governors.<\/p> <\/p> If the automatic release date \u2013 which for the majority of prisoners is the half-way point in their sentence \u2013 falls on a weekend or Bank holiday, the law (Section 23(3) Criminal Justice Act 1961) requires the release to be brought forward to the first preceding working day. To defer the release date would mean holding the person unlawfully.<\/p> <\/p> The exception is where the sentence is 5 days or less. In such cases the law provides for release to be on the Saturday if the automatic release date falls on a weekend or Bank Holiday.<\/p> <\/p> We have no evidence of any statistically significant difference in reoffending outcomes for prisoners released on a Friday.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006069/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Copy of PQ190798.xlsx"}
, "title" : "Table"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:21:46.883Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisoners' Release"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were released from prison on each Friday in the last six months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Hanson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Delyn"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Hanson"}
], "uin" : "190798"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006110", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006110/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Some young people need ongoing support into young adulthood, after they leave children and young people\u2019s mental health services. This point of transition is an important stage for young people, and it is not always easy. In January 2015, NHS England published a Model Specification for Transitions from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, to support better transition planning and delivery by local providers. Transition from children and young people\u2019s mental health services has also been included as one of 13 mandatory national indicators in the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation scheme (2017/19), which offers financial incentives to local areas to encourage improved transition planning for children and young people. To address issues of transition, some areas have already also adopted a mental health service which supports young people from ages 0-25.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4065", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thurrock"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jackie Doyle-Price"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:23:33.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Mental Health Services: Young People"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking in response to the consultation on the Transforming children and young people\u2019s mental health provision Green Paper in order to improve mental health provision for 18 to 25-year-olds.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4120", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kate Green"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stretford and Urmston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kate Green"}
], "uin" : "190880"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006146", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006146/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The ICIBI\u2019s report on the Home Office\u2019s Management of Asylum Accommodation Provision was published on 20 November, along with the Government\u2019s response. The Home Secretary is considering the reports on the Country of Origin Information and Vulnerable Adults, which will be published shortly.<\/p> The Home Secretary is also considering the report on the Home Office (Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System) collaborative working with Other Government Departments and Agencies, which was received on 30 October 2018. This will be published in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:02:35.593Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: Publications"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will plans to publish the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's reports on (a) Asylum Accommodation, (b) Country of Origin Information, (c) Vulnerable Adults and (d) Home Office (Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System) collaborative working with other government departments and agencies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4671", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Afzal Khan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Manchester, Gorton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Afzal Khan"}
], "uin" : "190959"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005861", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005861/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested.<\/p> <\/p> The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO\u2019s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information.<\/p> <\/p> All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.<\/p> As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "190557"}
, {"_value" : "190560"}
, {"_value" : "190561"}
, {"_value" : "190939"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005861/answer/previousversion/86232", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:05:17.873Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisons: Private Sector"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2018 to Question 172523 on Prisons: Private Sector, when his Department stopped holding data on the number of staff certified under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dwyfor Meirionnydd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Liz Saville Roberts"}
], "uin" : "190556"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005862", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005862/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested.<\/p> <\/p> The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO\u2019s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information.<\/p> <\/p> All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.<\/p> As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Penrith and The Border"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rory Stewart"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "190556"}
, {"_value" : "190560"}
, {"_value" : "190561"}
, {"_value" : "190939"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005862/answer/previousversion/86235", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T17:05:17.92Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisons: Private Sector"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2018 to Question 172523 on Prisons: Private Sector, for what reason his Department stopped holding data on the number of staff at each privately operated prison certified under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005865", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005865/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested.<\/p> <\/p> The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO\u2019s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information.<\/p> <\/p> All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.<\/p> As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
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, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, {"_value" : "190561"}
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, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005865/answer/previousversion/86233", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rory Stewart"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prison Officers: Recruitment"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many new Officer Certificates under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 have been issued by his Department in each month since January 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts"}
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