HC Deb 10 April 1941 vol 370 cc1684-5
36. Mr. Evelyn Walkden

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the circular issued by the Treasury enjoining on Departments that they should make the fullest possible use of Whitley machinery during the war; and why it is that Whitley machinery in the prison service is not functioning at all?

Mr. Peake

My hon. Friend has been misinformed. There has for many years been in operation in the prison service an organisation, known as the Representative Board, at which staff representations have been regularly discussed with the Prison Commissioners. Moreover, the Prison Commissioners agreed some time ago that the officers might form an association, with a view to the substitution of a Whitley Council for the Representative Board, and all the necessary steps for this purpose have now been taken. While it is important that the staff should have full opportunities of making representations about their conditions of service, the special position of prison officers as members of a disciplined service must also be borne in mind, but, provided the importance of maintaining the discipline necessary in this service is not overlooked, there is no reason to think that the new form of representative machinery will not work satisfactorily.

Mr. Walkden

Does the hon. Gentleman suggest that no representations have been made by the service, or by the warders' organisation in the prison service?

Mr. Peake

Representations have frequently been made, and there was an arbitration, I think only last year, upon conditions.

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