HC Deb 21 March 1898 vol 55 cc391-2
MR. DAVITT

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the governors and deputy governors of the convict and local prisons of England and Wales are ex-officers of the Army, Navy, or Militia, and how many are civilians; and whether two-thirds or more of the warders, assistant warders, and civil guards employed in the said prisons are men who have served in the Army or Navy?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

The numbers asked for in the first paragraph are 36 and 35. Of the officers mentioned in the second, 939 had served in the Army, Navy, or Marines, and 996 were civilians.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

Would it be possible to give the remainder of the positions to men who have served in either the Army or Navy?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

I do not think it desirable that all the positions should be thus given.