§ 19. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state when the last increase in wages was granted to prison warders in the various prisons of the United Kingdom; and whether, should no increase have been given in recent years, he will state whether an increase can be granted in view of the increased cost of living?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere has been no general increase in the scales of pay since 1891, but since that date there has been a progressive improvement in the condition of service of different grades, as I stated in the reply which I gave to the junior Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne on the 13th March last. The whole question of the pay and hours of duty of all grades of prison officers has lately been the subject of review, and, in addition to the introduction of shorter hours of duty, there has been a practical improvement of the scale of pay and prospects of the teaching, engineering and instructing staffs. The additional rent allowance now given, where quarters cannot be provided, in localities where house rent runs high, has, it is hoped, done much to meet the increased cost of living, so far as higher rentals contribute to this.