§ MR. JAMES ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the recently issued Treasury Minute giving a half-holiday to writers in public Departments has been so far nullified by the power given to Departmental authorities to refuse the boon in cases where business was pressing; and whether the Treasury would be willing to give directions that in such a case a half-holiday in lieu of the one lost should be given as soon as the pressure was over?
§ MR. JACKSONThe Civil Service Commissioners have issued a notice that copyists may, provided the Heads of Departments in which such copyists are employed are satisfied that the state of public business will permit, be allowed a half-holiday without loss of pay on alternate Saturdays. It is the essence of the concession that the state of public business permits the absence of copyists in hours for which they receive pay, and the Treasury cannot undertake to extend the privilege in a manner which would in effect lead to duplicate payment for the work.