§ 42. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the system whereby prison officers at Saughton Prison, Edinburgh, have to work on six days each week.
§ Lady TweedsmuirIn accordance with the recommendation of the Wynn-Parry Committee on Remuneration and Conditions of Service of Certain Grades in the Prison Services, which reported in 1958, officers on discipline duties at Edinburgh Prison and other penal establishments in Scotland are conditioned to 84 hours per fortnight worked in 11 working days. The industrial, 61W works and clerical grades in all establishments were given the opportunity of working a 5½-day week as an alternative, and in October last elected by a majority to do this. At a recent meeting of the Whitley Council the staff side proposed that these grades should revert to an earlier arrangement of alternate weeks of 5 and 5½ days but the official side was unable to agree.
§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many men and women, respectively, staff Scottish prisons; how they are recruited; and how many of them are recruited locally.
§ Mr. NobleOn 1st June, 1,193 men and 99 women were employed in Scottish prisons and other penal institutions, of whom 62 men and 24 women were part-time. Full-time posts are advertised in the Press and appointments are made on the basis of a written test and interview. Part-time staff are recruited for local service as circumstances require.