HC Deb 21 June 1938 vol 337 cc915-7W
Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the store-warden grade of the prison service was not permitted to be assimilated with the clerical grades of the Civil Service generally as was done in the case of the similar grade, the clerks and schoolmasters, of the English prison service; and if he is aware that the pay and general conditions of service of the Scottish prisons were assimilated with those obtaining in the English prison service?

Mr. Colville

The store warders in the Scottish prison service were not assimilated to the clerical class of the Civil Service because, unlike the former grade of clerks and schoolmasters in the English prison service, they are a uniformed disciplined grade. I am aware that the pay and conditions of service in the Scottish prisons were assimilated to those obtaining in England so far as the circumstances allowed.

Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether all the officers at the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Perth, who come under the benefits of paragraph 18 of the Stanhope Report, 1923, were, on transfer to the asylum service, deprived of those benefits and placed on the same basis as officers who joined after the date of the report; if this was taken into account on the transfer of the officers concerned; and what savings, if any, were involved in the policy?

Mr. Colville

Under paragraph 18 of the report referred to, warders serving in Scottish prisons on 27th July, 1923, were allowed in lieu of certain miscellaneous payments a basic increase of 1s. a week, subject to the maximum of the scale of pay; and as recommended elsewhere in the report the special allowance payable to warders serving in the Criminal Lunatic Department was increased to 3s. a week basic. These allowances are not payable concurrently to the same officer and consequently a prison warder in receipt of the basic increase of 1s. a week who was transferred to the Criminal Lunatic Department would receive the special allowance of 3s. a week basic, in lieu of the basic increase of 1s. a week. The financial adjustment involved in such cases was not a factor in the selection of individuals for transfer and there was no question of savings.

Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that officers at the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Perth, perform within 14 days four days of eight hours each and six days of 10 hours and 40 minutes each; and if he will have these hours reviewed, in the interests of the health of the officers and the efficiency of the service?

Mr. Colville

The period of duty of the officers referred to is 96 hours a fortnight and the rotation of duties in force is as suggested by the staff themselves. On the information before me a review of the existing arrangement does not appear to be necessary; but it is open to the staff to make any representations which they may think fit through the usual channels and if any representations are made they will receive due consideration.

Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the present hours of duty of the officers at the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Perth, were introduced as an economic measure so that the extension of the prisoners' working would not involve any addition to the staff?

Mr. Colville

The hours of duty were rearranged in consultation with the staff, consequently upon the decision to allow the inmates an extra hour of evening recreation. The rearrangement involved the addition of one warder to the establishment.