§ 30 and 33. Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary (1) whether the new scheme for increasing the pay of Irish warders works out to the disadvantage of the married members of the staff and only benefits the unmarried men and assistant matrons; if so, what steps he proposes to take; and (2) whether the new scheme for the payment of salaries of Irish warders provides for the forfeiture and stoppage of allowances for fuel and light and allowances for promoted positions; whether, in the case of a warder entitled under the new scheme to an increase of pay of 3s. 6d. per week, or £9 2s. per year, there is entailed a forfeiture of £5 per year for fuel and light and £5 per year allowance for a promoted position; and whether the Government propose to do anything to remove the hardship of such a case?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that practically all the warders in the Irish prison service will benefit by the new scales of pay which, however, entail the discontinuance of the allowances for fuel and light, A warder now receiving the £5 allowance in lieu of fuel and light will, if he accepts the new scale, receive an increase of £9 2s. per annum less the £5 allowance a net gain of £4 2s. per annum. Where a warder has been drawing in addition to his salary an allowance for special duties he will, in most cases, receive remuneration for such duties in future by way either of promotion or of working pay. Where this is not possible the ease will be carefully considered.