§ Mr. PURBRICKasked the Home Secretary the date on which authority was given for instituting the ranks of assistant-housemaster and housemaster in Borstal institutions or prisons; the present number of these officials; their general remuneration, and allowances; the' number appointed to governorships in prisons or Borstal institutions; the total cost to the State since the inception of the rank; and on what basis the administrative policy of houses and housemasters is modelled?
§ Sir J. GILMOURHousemasters were first sanctioned, under the name of assistant-tutors, in January, 1922, assistant-housemasters in February, 1924. The number for whom provision is made in the Estimates for the current financial year is 19 housemasters and 26 assistant-housemasters. The remuneration of a housemaster is at the rate of £270 15s. per annum at minimum, rising to £352 17s. per annum, and that of an assistant-housemaster at the rate of £190 15s. per annum: officers of both classes are in addition entitled to free quarters or an allowance in lieu. Thirteen governors or deputy-governors have been promoted from the ranks of assistant-tutor, housemaster, or assistant-housemaster. It would involve much work to give an accurate figure for the total cost, but it is estimated at approximately £58,000. The policy of dividing the institutions into houses has been adopted on the ground that it provides the best" means of bringing to bear on the individual inmates that personal influence of the staff which forms the basis of the training in Borstal institutions.