§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state when the increased scale of pay for boy copyists will come into operation; whether it will apply to present as well as future boy copyists; and whether he will consider the advisability of giving boy copyists, when competing for higher appointments, an allowance of service marks.
(Answer.) The change of scale will take effect as from 1st April last. Any boy copyist paid by the week and receiving less than 15s. for a week of thirty-nine hour's will be at once raised to that scale. Application will be made for an Order in Council authorising the allowance of service marks. Boys in the Post Office and Post Office Savings Bank Departments have hitherto been paid by the hour at rates which are less favourable for the first year and more favourable for subsequent years than those current in other branches of the Civil Service. I am considering what new arrangements, if any, should be made in their case.—(Treasury.)