asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the cost to the State for making a chief warder's, a principal warder's, and a warder's uniform, by a prisoner in civil prisons, for the year is, according to Prison Board returns, £2 Os. 6d., £1 13s. 6d., and £1 5s. 6d. respectively; whether this cost must be included in determining the actual cost to the State of the uniform supplied; and, if so, whether he will now see that it is included in the allowance in lieu of uniform given to the clerical officers of the Prisons Service.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - PRISON OFFICIALS' UNIFORMS.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
The figures furnished by the General Prisons Board as the estimated value of the labour of prisoners engaged in the making up of uniforms for chief warders, principal warders, and warders, are £2 3s. 3d., £1 16s. 3d., and £1 8s. 3d. respectively. The estimated value of prisoners' labour must not be added for the purpose of determining the actual cost to the State of the uniform supplied. The cost of maintenance of prisoners has to be borne by the State whether they are employed in the making of uniforms or not. Accordingly in fixing the amount of the allowance granted to clerical officers in lieu of uniform the estimated value of prisoners' labour will not be included. If these officers are not satisfied with the amount of the allowance now granted the allowance can be discontinued and uniform re-issued. The concession of an allowance in lieu of uniform to clerical officers in prison will only be continued subject to the condition that the concession involves no additional expenditure.