|
30-Apr-08 11:15 [Pay and Reward]
Prime minister blocks pay rise for prisoners The prime minister Gordon Brown has revealed that he personally vetoed a proposed 37.5 per cent pay rise for prisoners from going ahead.
Currently, the minimum wage for an offender working inside a prison is £4 and the proposal from the Prison Service Management Board would have seen it increase to £5.50.
After learning about the plan yesterday, Mr Brown rejected it on the grounds that changes in the rate of pay should be part of a contract which rewards prisoners for good behaviour.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he said that a contract is currently being drawn up and pay increases will be written into it.
"We are now debating a contract with prisoners so they are better behaved. I think any debate about what prisoners receive in pay should be part of that new contract. There should be rights, but there should be responsibilities," the prime minister said.
Prisoners' rates of pay have not increased since the 1990s, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Although it is considered a project worth adopting by many countries, Australia's compulsory superannuation scheme is suffering in the face of the credit crunch, it has been stated.
Find out more>
Over a third of Britons believe they will be working during retirement in order to maintain the lifestyle they desire, according to recent research.
Find out more>
Conversion courses are currently attracting a host of new teaching candidates across the country as teachers seek a career change, it has been stated.
Find out more>
|
