§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he is aware 3517W that the chairman of the Scottish Prison Officers' Representative Board has resigned from the board and that the Edinburgh prison staff has refused to nominate a representative; and whether he will give the reason for the resignation?
§ Mr. ElliotThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The election of representatives to the Scottish Prison Officers' Representative Board is held annually in September and the constitution provides that a casual vacancy need not be filled until the following September. There is provision by which a casual vacancy may be exceptionally filled in advance of the next September election where special circumstances render this course desirable; but I understand that the Edinburgh Prison Staff do not desire to take advantage of this exceptional provision. I am not aware of the reason for the resignation in question.
§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether experienced prison officers or the Prison Officers' Representative Board were consulted regarding the new scheme for training candidates at Wakefield Prison?
§ Mr. ElliotThe answer is in the negative. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a Question by him on the 14th instant as to the circumstances in which use is made of the Imperial Training School for Prison Officers at Wakefield.
§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that probationary warders, on joining prisons, were allowed official quarters from the day on which they commenced their duties; that the present arrangements provide no quarters at Wakefield and inconvenience the candidates who in many cases are homeless on leaving their former employment; and will he assure candidates that the storing of their furniture and lodging allowances will be borne by the department?
§ Mr. ElliotProbationary warders on being posted to prisons are normally provided with official quarters and in any case where quarters are not available a lodging allowance is paid. All candidates undergoing training at the Imperial Training School for Prisons Officers at Wakefield are provided with quarters as for unmarried officers, and any married3518W candidates receive in addition a lodging allowance of 6s. 6d. a week. The terms offered to candidates are fully explained to them before joining and no modification in the direction suggested appears to be called for.
§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that probationary warders in the prison service, prior to their receiving instruction at the Imperial Training School at Wakefield prison, were all trained in their duties at Barlinnie, Glasgow, but were posted to prisons throughout Scotland; and will he instruct that the fare to Wakefield prison be allowed from the prison nearest the candidates' home instead of from Barlinnie under the recent ruling?
§ Mr. ElliotI am aware that probationary Warders in the Scottish Prisons Service were formerly trained at Barlinnie Prison. As explained in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member on the 14th July, it is in accordance with the general Civil Service practice that candidates should bear their own travelling expenses to the training centre. Special provision has been made by which candidates for the Scottish Prisons Service who are trained at Wakefield are put to no greater expense than if the place of training were at Barlinnie Prison.