§ MR. FIELDTo ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if the labourers employed in the Ordnance Survey, who are a special class of men, can be granted a minimum wage of 24s. a week; and if he will take into consideration the great expense these men entail in the cost of living, having to move frequently from place to place.
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) Perhaps my hon. friend will refer to the Answer I gave to a similar Question put by him on 16th March. Taking into account the advantages attaching to the employment of the men in question, such as comparative permanency, no loss of time by wet weather, free medical attendance, sick pay, and holidays, the Board do not think that there is any sufficient reason for the alteration of the present scale of pay.