HC Deb 04 March 1889 vol 333 cc845-7
MR. SEAGER HUNT (Marylebone, W.)

I beg, Sir, to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the members of the Metropolitan Board of Works did, on Friday the 1st of March, raise the salaries of about twenty of their officials, thereby raising considerably the amount to be paid in pensions in the future; whether, besides the increase of salaries above named, the Metropolitan Board of Works granted gratuities to officials for so-called extra services; whether both the increase of salaries and the gratuities were granted in spite of a request addressed to the Metropolitan Board of Works by the London County Council, to the effect that these grants should be referred to the consideration of a joint Committee of the Metropolitan Board of Works and the London County Council; and whether there are any means for restraining actions so prejudicial to the Metropolitan ratepayers?

HON. A. DE TATTON-EGERTON (Cheshire, Knutsford)

I wish to supplement this question by one of which I have given private notice, and that is, whether it is a fact that no Joint Committee as formulated by the Local Government Act 1888 has been created which could possibly have dealt with this matter?

MR. H. W. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform us on what terms—especially with regard to pensions—the County Councils will be expected to take over the Metropolitan Board officials?

* MR. RITCHIE

I believe that no Joint Committee has been formed, and if it had been it could not possibly have had any authority on such a question as this, which is clearly within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works. With reference to the Question of the hon. Member for St. Pancras, I should be glad if he will give notice of it. I imagine that the amount of pension depends on the scale of salaries when the new body takes over the officials. With regard to the Question on the paper, I may say I have communicated with the Metropolitan Board of Works as to this matter, and I learn that it has been their practice since 1865, annually, in the month of January, to direct a Committee to consider whether any, and what, alterations should be made in the position and salary of any of their officers. The recommendations made to the Metropolitan Board in the first instance were in accordance with this practice. They were adopted by that Board, and the total of the immediate annual increase of salary thus voted amounts to £131 2s. Gratuities to certain officers for special services, amounting to £431 5s., were also voted, on the recommendation of the Committee. I also find that a request of the kind referred to in the Question was made by the London County Council, and was considered by the Metropolitan Board, but they state that they thought it right to abide by the recommendation of the Committee. The Metropolitan Board appear to have acted within their powers in this matter, and I am not aware of any means of interfering with their action.

SIR W. HARCOURT (Derby)

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the situation is this, that the Metropolitan Board may raise the salaries to any extent, and that the London County Council will be compelled to give pensions to that amount, although the salaries are raised on the last day of their authority?

* MR. RITCHIE

The right hon. Gentleman is supposing, I imagine, a condition of things which I cannot think any responsible body would take up. But, Sir, I have told the House what would be the duty of the London County Council as to the action of the Metropolitan Board of Works, but it is impossible to express an opinion on the state of things stated by the right hon. Gentleman. He knows quite well that it is not unusual for salaries to have annual increments, but the Metropolitan Board do not seem to have adopted that system. I am informed the course they have taken is in strict accordance with precedent.

COLONEL HUGHES (Woolwich)

Do I understand that £131 is the total annual increase in the salaries of the Metropolitan Board staff?

MR. RITCHIE

Yes, Sir; according to the information we have received from the Board.