Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the expediency of abolishing the prison service confidential report, seeing that the system is liable to lead to abuses, as prison governors may-submit confidential reports to the Home Office concerning the conduct of their subordinates without affording the latter any opportunity of knowing the charges against them or of pleading in their own defence?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt would be impossible efficiently to carry on the prison service or any other service if persons in the position of prison governors were not allowed to communicate confidentially their opinion to their official superiors of those for whose conduct and efficiency they are responsible. Disciplinary action is, however, never taken except upon formal reports to which officers have the opportunity of replying. Reports as to character and efficiency are absolutely essential to guide the Commissioners in their selection for promotion, etc., and it is obvious that these would not ordinarily furnish matter for reply, e.g., when it is reported that an officer is lacking intelligence, self-reliance, etc. The reports are far more often favourable to officers than adverse, and no well-conducted and efficient officer has anything to fear from them.
Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the 1764W question of arranging a pension, scheme for prison officers on a contributory basis similar to that of the Metropolitan. Police; whether he is aware that under the existing pension system in the prison, service it is impossible for a subordinate officer to obtain a two-thirds pension; whether he is aware that a prison warder retiring at the age of sixty, after thirty-three years' service, has a pension of 12s. 7d. per week only; and whether he will consider the desirability of providing a larger pension after so many years of physical and mental strain?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe pension scheme for prison officers is the same as for all other members of the Civil Service. It would require legislation to put them on a different footing, and I am not prepared to propose or to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to propose such legislation. I could not say that such a case as the hon. Member suggests is impossible, but it is certainly not typical. Prison officers retiring after thirty-three years' service would usually be entitled to pension of a considerably higher amount, and if they have accepted the Superannuation Act, 1909, as nearly all have, they would also receive a lump sum on retirement.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Home Secretary whether he has received an application from political prisoners now in Holloway Prison requesting that they be allowed the use of writing materials in order to continue their occupations as writers or authors; and what reply, if any, has been sent to them?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have received petitions from certain prisoners at Holloway now under sentence, either for wilful damage or for assaulting the police, to be allowed the use of writing materials in prison; but I do not think it desirable to comply with the application. The question was carefully considered when the rules for this class of prisoners were settled, and, in view of previous experience, it was not thought expedient to allow the privilege. I think this decision was right, and should be adhered to.