§ 40 and 41. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will arrange to allow personnel employed in military detention barracks to have regular leave at alternate week-ends, as in civil prisons;
(2) whether he is aware of the long hours worked by personnel in military detention barracks; and whether he will take steps to conform the hours of duty to those of personnel serving in civil prisons.
§ Sir J. GriggThe rules for military detention barracks and military prisons lay down that the personnel on the staff in military detention barracks shall work 7½ hours a day. They are usually given leave on short pass, either every third week, from the time they finish their duty on Friday until 6.30 a.m. on Monday, or every fortnight, from about one o'clock on Saturday afternoon to 6.30 a.m. on Monday. Every three months they have a week's leave. It is difficult to make an exact comparison in these matters between soldiers and civilians, but I hope the hon. Member will agree that the conditions I have outlined above compare favourably with conditions in civil prisons.
§ Mr. BrownIs the Minister aware that, although these Regulations sound all right, they are more honoured in the breach than in the observance, and will he receive representations on the matter?
§ Sir J. GriggCertainly, Sir, but I should be very surprised to find that the sweeping statement in the hon. Member's supplementary is true. I shall be prepared to receive any representations on the subject.