§ 46. Mr. Victor Yatesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst prison officers about the failure of the prison division of his Department to reply to the claim submitted by the Prison Officers' Association on 15th June, 1964, for a 5-day, 40-hour week in the prison service; and if he will give a reasoned reply at an early date.
§ Miss BaconThis multiple claim involves a number of difficult issues which have necessarily required careful consideration. A reply will be sent to the Prison Officers' Association as soon as possible.
§ 47. Mr. Victor Yatesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much overtime has been worked by prison officers during each of the past five years, respectively; and what is the cost of such overtime.
§ Miss BaconThe cost of overtime by members of the prison officer grades during the last five financial years was as follows:
£ 1959–60 846,257 1960–61 964,282 1961–62 1,158,920 1962–63 1,274,012 1963–64 1,387,413 During the nine months ended 31st December, 1964, the amount was £1,239,050.
The actual number of hours overtime to which these figures relate could not be determined without a good deal of re- 268W search which I would not feel justified in undertaking.