§ Mr. HIRSTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that unmarried officers in the Irish prison service have been deprived of 1s. 6d. per week from 1st April, 1916, to 1st April, 1919; whether he is aware that these unmarried officers act as sleeping-in guards; that English prison officers performing the same duty receive 2s. 6d. per night, plus fuel and light; and whether he will refund to these Irish officers the loss they have sustained?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt is true that unmarried officers in Irish prisons received 1s. 6d. per week less than married officers in the period mentioned, but I can hold out no hope of obtaining Treasury sanction to make up the difference to the single1040W men. Single officers in Irish prisons are provided with quarters in the prison, and are required to sleep in them. I have no, information as to the case of the English. prison officers.