§ 97. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of his recent announcement to the annual conference of the Police Federation, he will consider confining promotion to the higher grades of the prison service to those who have served in the uniform grades; and if he will pay especial attention to the recall of a pensioned deputy-governor to open a new prison for women, and to the announcement that a deputy-governor will be advertised for.
§ Mr. EdeIt is the policy of the Prison Commissioners, to which I attach great importance, that members of the prison service should be given every opportunity to qualify themselves and be considered for promotion to the highest posts in the service. I cannot, however, undertake that appointments from outside the service will never be made. For instance, for the special post to which the hon. Member refers, I was satisfied that there was no candidate in the service possessing the special qualifications required.