§ MR. HAYDEN (Leitrim, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether clerks to prisons in Ireland perform on week days from 12 to 16 hours' duty, and on Sundays eight hours; whether these periods are in excess of the time during which similar officers in England are engaged; and, whether he will cause inquiry to be made, with a view to the reduction of the present hours?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)Sunday duty is, of course, unavoidable in the Prison Service. From the Report submitted by the General Prisons Board, I find that the average length of attendance is not so great as from, 12 to 16 hours' duty on week days, and on Sundays eight hours, as stated in this Question. I am not aware of any ground for general inquiry into the subject; but if the hon. Member has before him any particular case which he thinks is one of hardship, and will mention it to me, I will undertake to look into it.