§ Mr. SPEARasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that at Parliamentary elections warders in His Majesty Prison, Dartmoor, who have recently been removed there from Portland can only record their vote at Portland on condition that the time so occupied by the warders be deducted from their allotted holiday; and if he will issue an order providing that reasonable time be given for the purpose without any deduction being made from the warders' hard-earned holiday.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWarders are always given an opportunity to record their votes at elections in the district where they live, but it might cause serious dislocation to the service if the rule were extended to elections in distant places. I have no doubt, however, that, so far as is consistent with the demands of the service, the Prison Commissioners would do their best, if applied to, to facilitate the grant of a holiday to an officer who can satisfy them that he is going to a distant place to vote.