§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he still enforces the rule that no warder in an Irish prison may go outside the walls without uniform; how long such order has been in force; whether he is aware that it entails great hardship upon the warders, who are thereby prevented from enjoying any recreation during the hours when they are off duty; whether it has come to his notice that the warders are at times attacked and insulted by roughs when they appear in the public streets in their uniform; and whether the same rule applies to the female warders, and, if not, why not?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe General Prisons Board report that the rule that no warder in an Irish prison may go out side the walls without uniform was originally made in February, 1879, and was renewed in April, 1889. The Prisons Board are not aware that it entails great hardship. The Board are not aware that the wearing of prison uniform is the cause of warders being attacked and insulted by roughs in the public streets. The rule does not apply to female warders, the uniform worn by them being merely a black dress.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask the Home Secretary if no English warder is allowed to go outside the prison unless he is in uniform?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,.) Birmingham, EI must ask the hon. Member to give notice of the question.