HC Deb 16 May 1899 vol 71 cc743-4
MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Homo Department whether a now scale of fines on subordinate officers in prisons has been issued under date 1st April, 1899, by which the maximum fines have been increased from 3s. to 5s. for such offences as carelessness, slovenliness, un-punctuality, using bad language, leaving a cell door unlocked, and conduct unbecoming a prison officer; and whether the regulation that each officer should be made acquainted with this scale is strictly enforced in all prisons.

* SIR M. WHITE RIDLEY

The maximum fine is fixed by No. 140 of the new Prison Rules, a draft of which was laid before the House at the beginning of the session. The Standing Order dated 1st April directs as follows— Each officer will be made acquainted with this scale, and a copy of it will be placed in some position in which any officer can refer to it.

MR. LOUGH

I beg further to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the number of hours of duty per week, including one evening duty, done by subordinate officers in London primus is 78 to 94, and when two evening duties fall in the same week 92 to 106; and whether, when an officer goes on for the evening, he is obliged to be on duty for:36 hours consecutively; if so, whether anything can be done to reduce these hours of work.

* SIR M. WHITE RIDLEY

The hours of duty of a subordinate officer in all local prisons; are, on the average, about 62 hours a week, including evening duty, I and whether on evening duty once or twice a week. He is never employed continuously on active duty for more than about 10 hours a day, but lie takes his turn of sleeping in the prison, and is there nominally on duty, or available for duty, for 36 hours consecutively, though he is out of the prison during nearly six hours of that time for meals and recreation.

MR. LOUGH

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that 30 hours' consecutive duty, even if sleep is allowed, is excessive?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order. That is a matter of argument.