§ MR. BEAUFOY (Lambeth, Kennington)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether warder schoolmasters were engaged on the distinct understanding that they 1683 were to be exempted from sleeping in prison; and whether that privilege has been withdrawn; and, if so, on what grounds?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS, Birmingham, E.)I am informed by the Chairman of the Prison Board that out of 71 School master warders all but two were engaged as ordinary warders, and have received extra pay for doing schoolmaster's duty. These warders have been exempted from their turn of night duty, because that unfitted them for their schooling duties next day. This exemption has not been withdrawn. There was nothing in the terms of their engagement or in the nature of their duties to exempt them from sleeping in prison in turn with other warders.
§ MR. BEAUFOYIs it not the fact that a fresh Order was issued on the 31st December, 1890, which practically abolished certain privileges which the warder schoolmasters used to enjoy?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI believe the fact is that some of the Governors of prisons misunderstood the Order, and in that respect there has been an alteration in the action of the Government.