§ MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the scheme announced by the Government for the future arrangements as to boy clerks in the Civil Service has been under consideration for sixteen months, and when he proposes to make it known to the House; and whether he will afford an opportunity to the House of discussing it before it becomes operative.
§ SIR G. KEKEWICH (Exeter)At the same time may I ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any reply has yet been sent to the memorial submitted by the boy clerks in the Civil Service in September, 1906; and, if not, what is the reason for the delay; and why no action has yet been taken to lessen the hardship to the boys, and the waste of time and money caused by the policy of admitting into the public service and training for their duties numbers of boys who have no prospect of permanent employment.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. RUNCIMAN, Dewsbury)The question of reducing the number of boy clerks is one of great difficulty, and I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any definite statement on the subject. But the matter will not be lost sight of.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYWhen does the hon. Gentleman expect to be in a position to give an answer? The matter has now been under consideration fifteen months.
§ MR. RUNCIMANWhen I have arrived at a decision, I shall be glad to communicate it to the House.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYHas the hon. Gentleman no idea how long hence that will be?
§ MR. RUNCIMANNo, Sir, I cannot make any promise.
§ SIR G. KEKEWICHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, why, in view of his assurance that measures are in contemplation to reduce the number of boy clerks in the Civil Service, two examinations of large numbers of candidates for boy clerkships were held in September, 1907, and January, 1908, respectively.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThe existing demand for boy clerks must be met until arrangements can be made for substituting some other kind of labour.