HC Deb 22 March 1938 vol 333 cc1015-6W
Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Scottish prison officers are to receive a weekly allowance in lieu of boots, plus a repair allowance; and, if so, will he give the amount of the allowance and how it compares with a similar allowance to the police?

Mr. Elliot

The question of the substitution of a cash allowance for the present free issue of boots, plus a repair allowance, is presently under consideration in consultation with the Scottish Prison Officers' Representative Board. No decision has yet been taken.

Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the procedure in the prisons service when a governor or the Prison Department wishes to bring a charge against an officer for an alleged offence; whether the charge is always made in writing for the officer to see; if the officer always sees the full evidence on which the charge is based; whether the officer is allowed to make a copy of the full evidence and decision so that he may, if he so desires, lodge an appeal against the decision; and, if not, is he prepared to issue instructions that when an officer is charged with an alleged offence he shall be allowed to make a copy of the full evidence?

Mr. Elliot

Where a charge is made against the conduct of a prison officer the procedure is to set out the charge in writing and it is the practice to communicate any relevant written evidence to the officer, with a request for an explanation. It is open to the officer to make a copy of the charge, of any written evidence and of the decision and I do not propose to make any modification in this practice. The usual procedure is modified in any case which may give rise to criminal proceedings.

Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the petition for an improvement of the pay rates of prison officers submitted to him by the Prison Officers' Representative Board; whether a reply has been given; and, if so, what was the nature of the reply?

Mr. Elliot

Yes, Sir. A reply has been sent to the Scottish Prison Officer's Representative Board to the effect that I am not aware of any change of circumstances since the last general revision of pay in January, 1936, to justify a variation in the scales then approved. It is open to the Board, with the consent of the Prisons Department for Scotland, to refer the claims for increases of pay to arbitration, subject to the conditions applying to arbitration in the Civil Service; and the Board have been informed that there would be no objection to this course.