HC Deb 06 April 1909 vol 3 cc905-6
Mr. WARDLE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there is a rule in prisons, made during January of this year, that the directors have power to dismiss any prison officer who procures, or attempts to procure, the intervention of a Member of Parliament in respect to a grievance or any other matter; whether the rule was made with his knowledge and consent; and whether he will lay a copy of the rule upon the Table of this House?

Mr. GLADSTONE

No new rule has been made, but in January last the Standing Orders for Prisons were amended for the purpose of bringing clearly to the notice of prison officers an essential and well-established rule of the service: That it is a serious offence for a prison officer, as well as for any other officer connected with the Department, to attempt to obtain the intervention of persons of influence, including Members of Parliament, for the purpose of favouring his personal advancement, or for the purpose of making charges against his fellow officers.

Mr. LUPTON

Is there any particular reason why Members of Parliament should be deprived of this valuable and useful information?

Mr. GLADSTONE

What information?

Mr. LUPTON

As I understand, a prison official is not to give a Member of Parliament information.

Mr. GLADSTONE

He is not to give information to a Member of Parliament for the purpose of procuring his personal advancement, or for the purpose of making charges against his fellow officers. If he were allowed to do that it would be impossible to maintain discipline.

Mr. JOHN WARD

Is that rule a regular one throughout the services, including the Army and Navy. If so, can the right hon. Gentleman account for some of the questions that are put here?

Mr. GLADSTONE

I cannot answer for the Army and Navy, which are naturally under different regulations, but practically the rule that I have quoted also applies to the Post Office. I will refer my hon. Friend to an answer which I gave in the House on 5th of April, 1906, which showed that I have altered other arrangements and given prison officials free right of meeting to discuss their grievances, and for the purpose of appealing to the Secretary of State.

Mr. CROOKS

Does that apply to the Government prisons as well?

Mr. GLADSTONE

Oh, certainly.