§ 44. Mr. Montagueasked the Home Secretary whether all Civil Service Staff Associations, in common with the Prison Officers' Representative Board, are dealt with by his department under the provisions of the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, and the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act, 1927; and will he consult the Law Officers of the Crown on the position of the Prison Officers' Representative Board regarding recourse to the provisions of the Industrial 'Courts Act on the question of pay?
§ Sir J. SimonThe provisions of the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, apply to all persons employed in a civil capacity under the Crown as to other classes of employés, but the special provisions of the Civil Service Arbitration Agreements apply only to recognised associations of Civil Servants within the scope of the National Whitley Council. As to the position of the Prison Officers Representative Board in relation to these agreements, I would refer the hon. Member to the 1171 reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. McEntee) on 12th November last. As regards the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act, 1927, the statutory regulations made under Section 5 of that Act have been applied to all organisations of civil servants covered by the provisions of that Section. With reference to the second part of the question, I see no need to consult the Law Officers of the Crown in regard to the position of the Board.
§ 51. Mr. G. Griffithsasked the Home Secretary whether he will state approximately the percentage number of prison officers who attended the last duly convened meetings of the Prison Officers' Representative Board at Birmingham, Bristol, Dartmoor, Durham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester (men and women), Parkhurst, and Wakefield prisons, respectively?
§ Sir J. SimonAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The percentages were as follow:
| Birmingham | … | 36 |
| Bristol | … | 72 |
| Dartmoor | … | 38 |
| Durham | … | 51 |
| Leeds | … | 29 |
| Liverpool | … | 16 |
| Manchester, men | … | 20 |
| Manchester, women | … | 24 |
| Parkhurst | … | 30 |
| Wakefield | … | 20 |