§ 40. Mr. HAILWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the rate of payment to the executioner and his assistants remains the same as it did before the War; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Major Baird)I do not know whether there has been any increase in the payments made to the executioner by the sheriff who is responsible for the carrying out of the execution. The fee paid by the Prison Commissioners to the assistant executioner has not been increased. No representation has been made to me that the fees are inadequate, and I do not propose to take any steps.
§ Mr. HAILWOODIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the case of the assistant executioners, having regard to their present rate of pay, they are actually out of pocket when they have to attend?
§ Mr. HAYDAYIn view of the very effective proficiency of these professional gentlemen can the hon. Gentleman inform us the comparative results of their fees of a period of five years before the War and in the last five years? Further, in the interests of the community, will the hon. Gentleman's Department, in the event of these gentlemen refusing to carry out their duties, perform them?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNeither of these questions arises out of the answer.