§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanarkshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is a fact that additional allowances have been made to certain officials of the Upper Division of the Inland Revenue within the last fortnight, and whether the Treasury have refused to entertain proposals made as to certain Lower Division Clerks in the same Department, on the ground that a Minute is about to be issued dealing with all clerks of the said Lower Division; and, whether in 856 view of the fact that the delay in issuing the said Minute is 'operating unfavourably to the interests of these and other clerks of the Lower Division throughout the Civil Service, he will undertake to lay the Minute upon the Table of the House at a (definitely) early date?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHIt has been found necessary to make immediate provision for the extra work thrown upon the Legacy Duty Office by the new Estate Duty imposed by the Customs and Inland Revenue Act of this Session. Temporary allowances have been given in some cases. In other cases certain officers have been transferred to the Legacy Duty Office, and the Treasury is satisfying itself whether it would be practicable to carry these transfers further. Until that point is settled the question of promoting the Lower Division clerks cannot be considered. In answer to the more general question, as to delay in the production of the Treasury Minute, I can only refer the hon. Member and my two hon. Friends behind me to the very full reply which I gave on Friday last.