HC Deb 20 April 1937 vol 322 cc1597-8W
Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of ex-service men with war service to their credit who joined the Scottish prison service during the three years following the Great War; how many of these received an increase of only is. 6d. per week to their usual prison pay on being transferred to the Criminal Lunatic Department; and how many of this class of officers have over 12 years' service and have not yet reached their maximum rate of pay?

Mr. Elliot

The number of ex-service men with war service (at home or overseas) appointed as warders during the three years following the Great War and still serving in that grade is 58. The number of these warders who have not yet reached the maximum of the scale of pay (as extended with effect from the 1st January, 1936) is 47. As regards the second part of the question, eight received increases of approximately 1s. 6d. a week—five being above that rate and three below it—and two who were already in receipt of special allowances before transfer received no increase.

Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Sctoland whether he will give the number of ex-service men in the prison service who cannot complete 25 years' service for pension before the retiring age of 55 years, and the number who can complete from 35 to 38 years for pension?

Mr. Elliot

Prison officers are appointed at not less than 22 years of age and, in terms of the Superannuation (Prison Officers) Act, 1919, may be called upon to retire at age 55, and in any case not later than at age 60. Each year's service after the twentieth is reckoned for pension as two years, and the maximum pension of forty-eightieths of salary may therefore be earned after 30 years' service. The number of years' service for pension reckoned as above must therefore be an even number after 20 years. The number of ex-service men at present in the Scottish prison service who cannot complete more than 24 years so reckoned, i.e., who cannot qualify for a pension of more than twenty-four-eightieths of salary before 55 is 42; and the number who will be able to complete from 34 to 38 years, i.e., to qualify for a pension of from 34 to thirty-eight-eightieths of salary, before 55 is 86.