§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary the pay, increments, allowances, hours per day, and the number of days' leave with pay of quasi-permanent and temporary officers in the prison service; what percentage of them are ex-service men; and whether he will consider the possibility of putting them on the permanent staff in order that they may have the same conditions of service and share the same responsibilities as the established officers?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe rates of pay of quasi-permanent officers are 48s. 7d. a week for men and 37s. 11d. a week for women: for temporary officers 7s. 5d. a day for men and from 4s. 8d. to 6s. 2d. a day for women; and for night patrol reliefs (women) from 5s. 5d. to 6s. 2d. a day. These rates are fixed and there are no increments or allowances. The hours of duty for quasi-permanent officers and night patrols are six shifts of ten hours each a week; for stokers, not less than 48 hours' duty a week; and for others, 96 hours' duty a fortnight. Quasi-permanent officers receive six working days' annual leave with pay, plus the usual public holidays, and temporary officers receive similar leave after twelve months' service. Owing to the fluctuations in the population and duties required at the various establishments, the employment of a permanent staff based on maximum needs could not be justified, and I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. The percentage of ex-service men included in the quasi-permanent and temporary staffs is 81.