§ MR. A. WILLIAMSOn behalf of the hon. Member for Cardiff, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the present position of Customs boatmen in respect of an increase of their weekly or annual increment of pay, to put them on the same footing as the outdoor officers 42 who enter the Service at the same initial salary, and in respect of payment for Sunday labour and an increase of their maximum pay; and whether the recommendations of the Board of Customs respecting the boatmen, made about August last, have yet been carried out; if not, when they will be? I will also ask when the compensation due to certain Customs boatmen, consequent upon the abolition of classification, is to be fixed; what will be its amount; and when will it be paid?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT, Oldham)I may say that the subject of my hon. Friend's two questions is one of great complexity; but the Treasury is examining the various points most carefully, and I hope will be able before long to announce a decision. With regard to the second question, however, I should observe that the late Chancellor of the Exchequer abolished classification at the boatmen's own request; and they are, therefore, hardly entitled to ask for compensation for what has resulted from a compliance with their own wishes.