§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether the rank of clerk and schoolmaster in the Irish prison services has not yet been fully assimilated with that rank in England and Wales as regards the allowance of 6s. 6d. when compelled to sleep within the prison walls, and liable to call for duty at any time; will he take steps to settle the assimilation question without further delay?
(2) whether representations have been made to him or the General Prisons Board by certain officers in the Irish prison service to the effect that they are living in fear of their lives; and whether he will consider the advisability of making arrangements by which the officers may be transferred to the English prison service?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI will answer this question and that which follows it upon the Order Paper together. As from the 1st instant, prison officers in Ireland are transferred to the Provisional Government, to whom they should address any representations regarding their conditions of service which they may wish to make. Prison officers who may elect to retire from the service in consequence of the change of Government are, of course, entitled to the compensation laid down in Article 10 of the Treaty and Article 7 (II) of the Provisional Government (Transfer of Functions) Order, 1922, but I am afraid I can hold out no hope that it will in present circumstances be possible to transfer any such officers to the English service.