§ 35. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to remove the grievances of the Scottish prison officers that they are not allowed representation on the National Whitley Council; that the manner in which representations from the Prison Officers Representative Board on the pay 987 question have been treated by his Department causes discontent; and that the meetings at prisons do not represent more than a third of the staff?
§ Mr. ElliotPrison officers, as members of a discipline service, are not within the scope of the National Whitley Council for the Civil Service, but are afforded due opportunity of making representations on matters affecting their conditions of service through a representative board constituted for the purpose. No alteration in this procedure, which is designed to meet the particular circumstances of the prisons service, seems to be necessary. With regard to the second part of the question, I have no reason to suppose that representations from the board are not properly considered. As regards the last part of the question, reports of attendances at meetings are not made to the Department, as the matter is one for the staffs themselves. I understand, however, that a marked increase of interest in the representative board has recently been shown, and that a full and active board is now in being.
§ Mr. MathersDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the very existence of these questions is an indication of dissatisfaction, and will he not have some further inquiry made in order to endeavour to create the satisfaction which should exist?
§ Mr. ElliotI think we ought to try the matter out now that we have a much larger attendance at the representative board than was the case when the old board was in existence.