§ 20. Colonel GOODMANasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the discontent among senior officers in the prison service relating to the latest scheme for promoting six prison officers, under 40 years of age, to superior ranks; and, in view of the fact that these comparatively young officers may eventually be put in authority over principal and chief officers, whose years of experience range, approximately, from 15 to 30 years, will he reconsider this scheme?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs I explained in reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend on the 13th December, the scheme to which he refers is intended to afford officers who show exceptional ability in the early part of their service an opportunity of being trained for accelerated promotion or for special posts outside the ordinary avenues of promotion. No guarantee of accelerated promotion is given to those who undergo such training, and those who do not undergo it will still be considered for promotion. The guiding principle in making appointments to the superior grades must always be to select the candidates who are best fitted for the duties, and officers who show special ability may properly be promoted in preference to those who are senior to them in age or length of service.
§ Colonel GOODMANWill the right hon. Gentleman say why principal officers and chief officers are debarred from the scope of the scheme?
§ 21. Colonel GOODMANasked the Home Secretary the percentage of established women officers in the prison service, including Borstal institutions, who were promoted to the rank of principal officer, from principal officer to matron, and matron to chief officer, respectively; and the number of women appointed from outside sources to the respective ranks?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe 11 principal officers, eight matrons and two chief officers who are employed in women's establishments all entered the prison service as established women officers and have been promoted. Of the 23 house matrons employed in the boys' borstal institutions, 10 entered the prison service-as established women officers and 13 were appointed from outside the service.