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20 Jun 2005 : Column 777W—continued
Prisons (Staff Vacancies)
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff vacancies there were at each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution on 31 December (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii)2004; and if he will make a statement. [2893]
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Fiona Mactaggart: Information on staff vacancies against operational staffing requirement at 31 December 2002, 2003 and 2004 for each public sector prison establishment is contained in the table. Operational posts are highlighted separately within the table. The figures represent a snapshot of the staffing position in establishments. Details about levels of vacancies within privately managed establishments are not routinely collected and are therefore not included in the table.
The Service has had considerable success in filling posts over the past three years and shortfalls among operational staff over the past three years have fallen steadily. To cover vacancies in the short-term certain establishments are allowing officers to work additional hours as part of the 'Contracted Supplementary Hours Scheme'. This scheme contributed the equivalent of 463 full-time officers at 31 December 2004. At that time the total operational staff availability was 25,383 compared with an operational staffing requirement of 25,704, resulting in a Service-wide shortfall of just 1.2 per cent., well within an acceptable operating margin.
Staffing levels in non-operational roles are more fluid and vacancy figures reflect a number of reviews taking place across the Prison Service and work to introduce greater efficiencies. This led to decisions to leave posts unfilled.
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Race Relations
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of his Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [3550]
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Paul Goggins:
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places a general duty on Government Departments to have regard to the need to (a) eliminate unlawful racial discrimination; and (b) promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups. The general duty also applies to a large number of specified public authorities.
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The Home Secretary has also made Orders under the Act to place the specific duties" on named public authorities. The list of bodies subject to the general and specific duties is updated periodically in consultation with the Commission for Racial Equality and other Government Departments. One of these specific duties is to produce a Race Equality Scheme that sets out their arrangements for complying with the Act.
The Home Office published its revised race equality scheme on 26 May 2005. In addition to the legislative requirements the scheme also sets out key challenges, objectives and targets on race equality. The Home Office race equality scheme encompasses a number of associate schemes such as the Prison Service, United Kingdom Passport Service and National Probation Directorate and includes the associate race equality scheme for Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. The Home Office will continue to ensure that other public bodies comply with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act.
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