§ 14. Mr. McENTEEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 530 whether, under the new scheme for selecting candidates in the prison service for consideration for promotion to the superior ranks, experienced senior officers, already serving as chief and principal officers, are to be disqualified for consideration on account of their age being over 40, or will they be eligible for such promotion?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)I would refer to answers given by my predecessor to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Islington (Colonel Goodman) on the 13th December, 1934, and the 14th March and 18th April of this year. There is nothing in the scheme to which the hon. Member refers to disqualify chief and principal officers for promotion on account of age, and their claims are always considered when promotions are made.
§ 15. Mr. McENTEEasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there is much misunderstanding amongst prison officers as to the conditions under which their basic rate of pay was reduced by sums ranging from 5s. to 8s. per week and a hypothetical scale created in June, 1920; whether there was an agreement signed by both parties at that time; and, if so, who were the signatories?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe revised scales of pay which were determined in 1920 for the purpose of calculating bonus were accepted on behalf of the Prison Officers' Representative Board in a letter dated the 18th June, 1920. This letter was signed by Mr. F. W. Turner, Mr. W. Carpenter, and Mr. J. Cranston, then chairman, vice-chairman and secretary, respectively, of the Prison Officers' Representative Board, and by Mr. H. C. Edgell, then a member of the Emergency Committee of the Board.