§ 14. Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to improve the salary and working conditions of prison officers.
§ Mr. MaudlingA pay review is now due. It will be effective from the beginning of the year. As regards conditions of service, all prison officers will be conditioned to a five-day week by May.
§ Mr. CoxWhile noting the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I am sure he is aware of the resignations from the prison service in recent years and the lack of recruits. 1257 This is an indication of the great concern felt by prison officers. Will he assure the House that on the two points referred to in my Question the prison officers and their association will receive the fullest support from his Department?
§ Mr. MaudlingAs I said in reply to an earlier Question, I very much appreciate the work done by prison officers. Their pay arrangements are similar to those in other Civil Service grades and are linked to them, and a review is now due.
§ Mrs. Renée ShortWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the recruitment of more prison officers is the most effective way of improving the conditions within the service and that the introduction of modern devices in prisons to prevent repetitive work would go a long way to helping the staff more effectively to carry out their duties? This cannot be done without the expenditure of money. Es he prepared to spend that money?
§ Mr. MaudlingThere is a great deal in what the hon. Lady says.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisWill the Minister explain why every obstacle is put in the way of lower-paid State servants, whatever their classification, getting a reasonable salary increase, whereas increases of 66 per cent., back-dated, are granted immediately to the very well paid? He dodged my last supplementary question; will he answer this one?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe hon. Gentleman is still trying to anticipate a Question which appers later in the Order Paper.