§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Home Secretary the number of reformatory and industrial schools which have been closed or are about to be closed; whether staffs are being cut down in those left open, salaries reduced, and longer hours imposed upon those officers who remain; whether he is aware that in all cases where officers, some of whom are within a year or two of becoming eligible for pension, have been discharged, compensation for loss of pension has not been given, and no attempt has been made to find them other berths; and whether, if these discharges are unavoidable, arrangements will be made for the payment of compensation or the transfer of these officers to suitable berths where they may be enabled to work out the few years necessary to entitle them to pensions?
§ Mr. SHORTTYes, Sir; about 25 schools have been or are being closed for reasons of economy. The examination of the estimates of the remaining schools for the coming financial year showed that1578W some of the schools were over-staffed and the salaries paid too high, and the managers were accordingly asked to make the necessary reductions. I regret that I am unable to make any payment out of public funds to compensate any of the officers affected by loss of employment, but the managers of the schools, who are the employers of these officers, have given them as long notice as possible and are doing all they can to assist such officers in finding other work.