§ 27. Mr. MONTAGUEasked the Home Secretary whether the new scale of pay has now been introduced for prison sub- 2295 ordinate officers, under which the officers will lose on their increments sums varying from 4d. to 1s. per week; and whether be is satisfied that full inquiry has been made into the details of the pay of the lower ranks?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo such losses as those suggested in the question will be suffered by officers. I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the more detailed and technical explanation which bears this out.
§ Following is the explanation:
§ There is no foundation for the suggestion that, as a result of the introduction of the new scale, officers will be worse off than they would have been under the old scale. When a new scale is applied to officers receiving annual increments, it is the practice to adjust the incremental dates. As a result, nearly all officers will have their incremental dates advanced, and will receive immediately a proportion of the increment which, under the old scale, would not have become due until a later date. During the first part of the new incremental year, therefore, they will receive more, and during the latter part, less, than they would have received under the old system; but care has been taken to make these adjustments in such a way that each officer's aggregate salary for the year is either higher than or approximately equal to the salary he would have received on the old scale. I am satisfied that not only will the new scale improve the immediate position of many, and the prospects of all, officers, but also that the transitional arrangements have been made with careful regard for the immediate interests of everyone affected.