§ MR. J. O'CONNOR(for Mr. CRILLY) (Mayo, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that clerks employed in the office of the Commissioners of National Education, in Dublin, are fined at the rate of 6d. for every five minutes they are late in attendance in the morning; whether these same clerks are frequently called upon to give considerable attendance, in addition to the ordinary office hours, without additional pay; and, whether such a Regulation exists in any other Government Department, so far as he knows?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the office hours are from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M. No clerk is fined whose attendance is not later than 10.15. Any clerk absent after 10.15 o'clock is fined 6d. for every five minutes up to 11 o'clock, unless he can give the Secretary a satisfactory reason for his absence, in which case he is excused. Absence 88 later than 11 o'clock is specially considered. Whenever the pressure of business renders such a course unavoidable, extra attendance is required without additional pay; but, in consideration of it, a half holiday on Saturday is given to all clerks who are not in arrear with their work, and when much extra attendance is given by an individual his annual leave may be extended. I am not aware whether such a Regulation exists in any other Government Department.