§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government have considered the case of the Civil Service Writers; and whether any steps will be taken to improve the position of that class of public servants?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, it would be re-collected that a Committee, which was presided over by Mr. Otway, was appointed a few years ago, and the result of their inquiry was that a Minute was passed by the Treasury which in some respects improved the position of the Civil Service writers. In one or two Departments—especially in the Admiralty and Customs—arrangements had been made which by a re-constitution of offices altered to a considerable extent the position of the class in question. Moreover, a number of writers had taken the compensation offered them under the Treasury Minute of June, 1872. There had been no further or more general arrangements with regard to the class. At the present moment, however, the Government had under consideration the Report of the Commission which had been presided over by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Edinburgh (Mr. Lyon Playfair). That Report had a material bearing upon the position of the writers, and until Government had come to a decision with reference to it he did not think anything further could be done in the matter.