§ 22. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there are any officers in the prison service instructing in or supervising the cooking of food or baking of bread who, before joining the prison service, served no apprenticeship in cooking or baking; whether there are any officers qualified by apprenticeship in these trades whose services are not being utilised as instructors or supervisors in these trades; and, if so, will he have the matter remedied?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Elliot)Of the five officers employed to instruct prisoners in baking and cooking one had previous experience in the Navy, one in the Army and one in the Prisons Service, but did not complete a trade apprenticeship. The other two served a complete apprenticeship. As regards the remaining parts of the question, there are some officers who have served as trade apprentices and are not employed as instructors. The qualifications of such officers are always considered when appointments as instructors are made but it would not be in the interests of the service to make any change in the existing appointments.