§ MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons (apart from probationers) were temporarily employed as prison warders, or otherwise, in disciplinary duties in prisons during the year ended 31st March, 1897; what was the average period of employment of these persons; what previous experience fitting them for their employment had they had; and, will the Commissioners in their Annual Reports in future give information on these matters in a Note to the Return of the establishment of each prison?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY,) Lancashire, N., BlackpoolThe information which the honourable Member desires could only be obtained by requiring a Return from every prison; and I think the results would not justify the trouble that its collection would involve. He will find in Question 6,467 of the evidence taken by the Prisons Committee a statement of the purposes for which alone temporary officers are now engaged. Their employment is only authorised to meet special emergencies, and they are carefully selected by the governor.