HC Deb 28 June 1917 vol 95 cc505-6
11. Mr. DILLON

asked what was the reason for depriving the married Irish prison warders of the fuel and light allowances under the new scheme which they hitherto enjoyed under the old system; and for what reason were the fixed pensionable allowances for performing special duties taken away and un-pension-able reduced allowances given instead?

Mr. DUKE

The new rates of pay were conditional upon the abolition of the allowances. The fixed pension-able allowances were considered to raise difficulties in administration, and I believe the Prisons Board consider the un-pension-able allowances a better system of remuneration and lead likely to cause anomalies.

Mr. BOLAND

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the existing Irish warders cannot be paid the same scale of pay as the English warders?

Mr. DUKE

The scale of pay was arrived at after a great deal of controversy and it has been lately amended. I think it has been amended so as to remove every reasonable grievance.