INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN THE PRISON SERVICE

That this House notes with concern the number of occasions that the Prison Service has tried to settle disputes with the Prison Officers Association (POA) by resorting to using the courts; further notes with concern that the POA National Executive Committee, supported at its Annual Conference has given 12 months notice to withdraw from the Joint Relations Procedural Agreement; further notes with deep concern that the Ministry of Justice plans to reintroduce the provisions of section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and believes that this step is an unnecessary overreaction given the presence of existing trade union legislation; and therefore urges the Government not to bring forward legislation for the reintroduction of such punitive measures.