HC Deb 30 May 1881 vol 261 c1645
SIR TREVOR LAWRENCE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the extra officers of Her Majesty's Customs are not deprived of their pay on Her Majesty's birthday and other public holidays, which is not the case with temporary employés in other branches of the Civil Service; and, whether, if this is the case, he will not reconsider this treatment of a poorly paid class of public servants?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

I understand the hon. Member to allude to the class called extra men employed by the Board of Customs. These men are employed in such numbers and on such days as is found necessary. They are paid strictly by the day, and only for the day on which they are actually employed. I see no reason for altering this system in the manner suggested, the effect of which would be to give them pay for days on which they are not employed. There is no analogy between their position and that of other temporary employés of Government. I may say, however, that, as a matter of fact, a certain number of extra men are employed on all holidays, and are paid accordingly.