To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) extent of and (b) reasons for (i) staff transfer, (ii) staff turnover and (iii) staff departure from posts within the Prison Service as a consequence of stress; and if he will make a statement. (110920)

[holding answer 29 January 2007]: Staff transfers and departures are managed at local level and the details requested are not recorded centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Prison Service is currently working with the Health and Safety Executive to identify initiatives that will aim to reduce workplace stressors and there is ongoing work to look at the reasons why staff leave the Prison Service and also to develop a policy on stress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given by the population management unit of HM Prison Service to prison officers who review category C prisoners eligible for a move to a lower security category prison. (111307)

Prison Service Orders provide clear guidance to governors and staff on categorisation, including moves to open conditions. This emphasises that prisoners should be assessed as trustworthy and sufficiently low risk before allocation to open conditions, given the physical security levels common to the open estate. Formal training is given to countersigning officers who endorse reviews, who forward this training to their staff; and on the OASys (Offender Assessment System), and similar assessment tools.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of HM Prison Service were disciplined for racist behaviour in each of the last five years, broken down by grade of staff member; and if he will make a statement; (111746)

Central records on disciplinary cases involving public sector prison staff are currently being revalidated by reference to records held in individual prisons for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2006. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information once the exercise has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) the previous governor of HM Prison Wandsworth, (b) the area manager for London, (c) the performance test team leader and (d) the performance test deputy team leader received bonus payments on completion of the performance test bid for HM Prison Wandsworth; and if he will make a statement. (111751)

It is not Prison Service policy to comment on bonuses received by individual members of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all new prisoners at each prison establishment have their fingerprints taken on entry; and if he will make a statement. (111753)

Policy on the taking of fingerprints is set out in the National Security Framework, Function two - “Accounting and Control”. It states that any prisoner convicted of a criminal offence, except those committed for the non-payment of a fine, must be fingerprinted upon first reception.

Persons held under the Immigration Act 1971 must have their fingerprints taken if required for confirming their identity. Fingerprints of prisoners charged with, but not convicted of, a criminal offence may also be taken under certain circumstances with the prisoner's consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2007 to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire, Official Report, column 630W, on the Prison Service, who the investigating officer is required to notify of any concerns relating to the Commissioning Authority that he may have during the course of an investigation; and if he will make a statement. (111843)

The Professional Standards statement in Prison Service Order 1215 contains a section on conflicts of interest which states that

“staff must bring any potential conflicts of interest to the attention of a senior manager”.

An investigating officer must, therefore, report potential conflicts of interest relating to the Commissioning Authority to the latter's senior manager.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2007 to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire, Official Report, column 629W, on the Prison Service, whether a commissioning authority aware of a personal conflict of interest is obliged (a) to consult his own line manager, (b) to inform the Professional Standards Unit and (c) to inform another appropriate body; and if he will make a statement. (111844)

The Professional Standards statement included in Prison Service Order 1215 contains a section on conflicts of interest which must be adhered to by all staff. In particular it states that

“staff must bring any potential conflicts of interest to the attention of a Senior Manager”.

Commission Authorities are obliged therefore, to inform a manager senior to them, but not the Prison Service Union or another appropriate body.