A STAFF shortage at HMP Risley is expected to be resolved 'shortly', the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. 

This statement comes after Warrington North MP Helen Jones raised concerns in the House of Commons regarding the staffing levels at prisons across the country.

She said: "In a number of prisons, including HMP Risley in my constituency, prisoners are often denied access to work experience because the prison wings are locked owing to a shortage of staff."

She questioned what senior figures in the prison service are doing to tackle the problem as 'one of the biggest safeguards against reoffending is getting people into a job'.

But the parliamentary under-secretary of state for justice, Andrew Selous, said the prison service was doing a 'great deal' to resolve the issue.

He said: "The first and most important thing is that we were successful in recruiting more than 1,700 extra prison officers in the year to March, and we are going to carry on recruiting the same number of prison officers. 

"That will lead to more staff on the wings, allowing more access to work activities." 

A prison service spokesman added: "Prisoners at HMP Risley have access to work opportunities, such as workshops in brick-laying and plastering, as well as courses in commercial laundry and maintenance.

"Risley has recently filled a number of vacancies and expects to be fully staffed shortly."