To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison officers he expects to be employed in prisons in England and Wales in each of the next seven years. (155190)

The total number of prison officers employed in the public sector Prison Service on 31 August 2007 was 25,200. This figure will rise in line with increased capacity within the estate (subject to planning permission for new sites) and will increase prison officer numbers by a total of 1,491 over the next four years. Assuming that the current staffing figure remains broadly constant the projected staffing figures will be as follows by 31 March of each year:

Figures shown in the third column of the table show the additional number of prison officers required to open new accommodation in each of the financial years shown. These figures are provisional and may be subject to change. (Prison officer figures include all grades of uniformed officer). The Prison Service has no projected figures for 2012 and beyond.