33. Captain A. Evansasked the Home Secretary the rate of pay to prison warders; how this payment compares with that of police constables; whether any increases have been made in the last five years; whether any representations are now before the Prison Commissioners in favour of an improvement both of remuneration and working conditions; and, if so, whether he will state their nature?
§ Sir S. HoareOn 1st January, 1936, an improved scale of pay come into operation, by which prison officers, in addition to free quarters or an allowance in lieu and certain other emoluments, receive a wage starting at 50s. and rising to 70s. weekly after 12 years. The scale of pay of police constables who joined after 30th September, 1931, is 62s. weekly, rising to 90s. after 12 years, with a possibility of receiving two further non-pensionable increments of 2s. 6d. each after 17 and 22 years' service. In addition, police constables receive emoluments 1320 which, though in some respects similar to those of prison officers, are not altogether comparable. The Prison Officers' Representative Board have recently put forward a claim for improved scales of pay which will be duly examined, and if agreement cannot be reached it will be open to the staff to resort to arbitration.