§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the schoolmasters (clerk and schoolmaster warders) in the prison service are still called upon to perform ordinary discipline duty in addition to their scholastic or clerical work, notwithstanding the fact that the Departmental Committee of 1896 deprecated the practice and ultimately recommended in their Report the discontinuance of the imposition of menial duties upon these officers, as being incompatible with their position as teachers or clerks; and if he will take such steps as may be necessary for removing this grievance?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. J. COLLINGS,) Birmingham, BordesleyClerk and schoolmaster warders are employed entirely on clerical or scholastic work, and are exempt from ordinary discipline duties, except that they may be called upon to take their turn of Sunday duty (when a large proportion of the staff are away) and of sleeping in the prison, should the necessities of the service require them to do so. The Secretary of State does not think that the very limited extent to which the important and difficult duties discharged by ordinary warders may become incumbent on schoolmaster warders is in any way inconsistent with the full and effective exercise of their teaching duties.