HC Deb 03 May 1804 vol 24 cc233-4
MR. KEIR-HARDIE (West Ham, S.)

I beg to ask the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee of the House of Commons whether, having regard to the fact that the allowance made to the waiters in the dining room of the House of Commons is 3s. 6d. per attendance, and that they are prohibited from receiving gratuities, whereas the allowance made to waiters for a similar attendance in all the principal Clubs in London, with the exception of the National Liberal Club and St. George's Club, Hanover Square, is 5s. for a similar attendance, he will re-arrange the scale of payment so as to place the waiters of the House of Commons on an equality with those outside?

MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)

May I ask whether the waiters engaged during the day-time do not receive in addition to this pay three meals a day, while the waiters engaged in the evening have a meal at the end of their service?

MR. HERBERT (Croydon)

My attention was not called to the question of the hon. Member for West Ham until I heard the question of the hon. Member for Haggerston. It is the fact that the sum of 3s. 6d. for each attendance is paid to waiters who wait in the dining room of the House of Commons. The House is, perhaps, a ware that it is impossible to have a full staff in the House, because the requirements vary from day to day, and a certain number of waiters have to be engaged for the dining hours. The sum of 2s. 6d. used to be paid to the waiters, and it has now been raised by 1s. per day. It is certainly true that, in addition to that, those who come for these few hours for 3s. 6d. are also given their suppers. The pay of the permanent staff of waiters varies, I think, from 28s. to 30s. a week and higher, and these servants get three meals a day in addition.

MR. KEIR-HARDIE

Is it not the fact that all the principal Clubs in London pay 5s. for a similar attendance?

MR. HERBERT

It is hardly possible to compare the condition of waiters in the House of Commons to those in Clubs, who are permanent servants. It is impossible to have a permanent staff in the House of Commons.

MR. KEIR-HARDIE

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to the payment of waiters employed casually in Clubs?

MR. HERBERT

I cannot undertake to go round all the Clubs in London.

MR. KEIR-HARDIE

Then I will supply the hon. Gentleman with information.