§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether as regards Civil Service writers, considering that the Royal Commission on Civil Establishments had confined their deliberations to general propositions, 1275 and recommended that the writer system be put an end to without saying in what manner, and had not specifically considered questions of adequacy of pay, holidays, sick leave, and other grievances of which the writers complained, the Treasury would now do so, and formulate a scheme for the permanent settlement of the case, which had been left in a transitory state by the Treasury Minute of December, 1886, and which that Minute itself stated would be done as soon as the Government had arrived at a decision upon certain ulterior questions appertaining to the Civil Service then about to come before them, which had since been disposed of?
§ MR. JACKSONI cannot agree that the Royal Commission confined their deliberations respecting the copyists to general propositions, or left the questions of pay and other matters open. On the contrary, they stated that they could not report that the copyists had established any grievance which it is the duty of the State to remedy. Nor can I admit that the Treasury Minute of 1886 left the position of the copyists in a transitory state. It dealt with all the questions raised respecting the copyists. The only words which can give colour to the hon. Member's contention are "pending ulterior arrangements." These words referred to the fact that the Royal Commission on Civil Establishments were then sitting, and doubtless any recommendations of that Commission would have received the respectful attention of the Government, but the Commission really confirmed the settlement made by the Treasury Minute of 1886.