§ MR. CHARLES E. SHAW (Stafford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is contrary to existing regulations that the clerical staff of Her Majesty's prisons in the country should enjoy the benefits of Bank Holidays in common with nearly all Departments of the Civil Service, including the Prison Department of the Home Office; if not, will he secure that privilege to the clerical staff of Her Majesty's prison at Stafford?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe nature of the employment of the clerical staff is such as to prevent it being possible that they should enjoy the benefits of Bank Holidays without a large additional expenditure for extra officers being incurred, and I fear that I am not at present prepared to ask for this additional expenditure.