§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether an official nomination is required for the situation of subordinate officer in the Prison Service, England; whether the Civil Service Commissioners have recently stated in writing that the Commissioners can give no information as to the persons from whom, or the means by which, such nominations are to be obtained; and, whether he will state with whom the patronage control, by means of such nominations, of all subordinate situations in the Prison Service rests?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; an official nomination is required. The patronage control of all subordinate situations in the Prison Service rests with the Directors and Commissioners of Prisons, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. As to the Prison Commissioners, this is clearly defined in the 7th and 9th sections of the Prison Act, 1877. The practice is the same with regard to subordinate appointments in the Convict Service. I am informed by the Civil Service Commissioners that it 162 is not their practice, and they have no authority, to publish any statement as to the method of obtaining nominations in the case of prison or any other appointments.