To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what industrial relations agreements are in place between his Department and the Prison Service on the one hand and (a) the Prison Officers Association and (b) the Prison Governors Association on the other; and what contractual or other rights (i) the Prison Officers Association and (ii) the Prison Governors Association have with regard to access to the Prison Service Pay Review Body. (243616)

NOMS recognises the POA for collective bargaining purposes. However, following the POA’s withdrawal from the Joint Industrial Relations Procedural Agreement in May, there is no formal industrial relations agreement in place. However, a new local (prison level) disputes procedure was agreed and implemented in November 2007 and further negotiations will take place on developing a new national disputes procedure.

There is a Voluntary Agreement in place between the Prison Service and the PGA, which includes arrangements for progressing industrial relations disputes.

The Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) was set up by means of statutory instrument in April 2001. There is no contractual right for the Prison Officers Association or the Prison Governors Association to access the PSPRB.