§ MR. ALDEN (Middlesex, Tottenham)To ask the President of the Local Government Board how many Second Division clerks, appointed under the Order in Council, 21st March, 1890, are employed in the Local Government Board; how many clerks have been promoted to higher posts in the office from this class since its introduction over sixteen years ago; and the date of any such promotion.
§ (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The number of Ridley clerks on the establishment of the Local Government Board is at present 113. One Ridley clerk has been promoted to a staff clerkship, and the date of the promotion was 14th August, 1905.
§ MR. ALDENTo ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has considered the representations made to him by the deputation which waited on him in May, 1906, and the communications since addressed to him, in which the Ridley clerks of the Second Division serving in his Department pointed out to him their unfavourable treatment as regards promotion compared with that accorded to clerks of their class in other Government offices; and whether he is in a position to give any reply.
§ (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The clerks referred to desired that some improvement should be made in their position. I have considered the representations made by them, but I have not at present seen my way to complying with them. I may, however, say that I am always desirous of doing what I properly can for the clerical staff of my Department.