§ MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether officers in the service of convict prisons who, if on day duty, would receive their Saturday half holiday, forfeit the same when on night duty; whether the prevalence of this rule results in night watchmen losing thirteen days annually of holidays which would otherwise be allowed; and if he will take steps to remedy this state of things.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolThe night watchmen in convict prisons are always off duty in the daytime, so that the question of a Saturday half holiday does not arise. The aggregate number of hours they work is about six hours per week more than the ordinary discipline officers, but the nature of the duty is so different that there can be no comparison between them, and I do not therefore think that any alteration in the present system is called for.