§ MR. THORNTON (Clapham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that much anxiety exists among the Second Division clerks in the Estate Duty Office, London, concerning the proposal to accompany the offer of promotion to the First Division to such of their number as are specially meritorious with the condition that they submit to a reduction of their salaries involving a loss which will not be recouped until some twenty years after the date of promotion; if he is aware that these conditions will preclude many experienced men from accepting promotion owing to the time which must necessarily elapse before they can derive any financial benefit from such promotion; and whether he proposes to take any steps to remedy the alleged grievances.
EARL OF RONALDSHAYAt the same time, may I ask the Secretary to the Treasury if, in view of the fact that the new scheme for staffing the Estate Duty Office involves a reduction of salary in the case of certain clerks on promotion, he can see his way to making such alterations therein as will remove this apparent injustice.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HOBHOUSE,) Bristol, E.I cannot admit that any real grievance or injustice exists. These clerks had the option of selecting the new position with promotion or of remaining on the scale of the Second Division. I would also refer the hon. Member to my Answer of 13th July last to the hon. Member for St. Patrick's Division of Dublin.
EARL OF RONALDSHAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the average loss of salary which these clerks will sustain?
§ MR. HOBHOUSEThey will not sustain any loss ultimately. They have agreed to take lower payment at present in order to get a higher maximum in the future.
§ MR. THORNTONIs it a fact that a large number of these clerks are holding back with the result that there is likely to be congestion in the office?
§ MR. HOBHOUSEI have no such information.
§ MR. CARLILE (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)Is it proposed to apply this principle to other offices, to Cabinet Ministers for instance, and reduce their salaries on promotion?
EARL OF RONALDSHAYAre we to understand that these clerks agree to the holding back of their salaries?
§ MR. HOBHOUSEThey had the option of accepting promotion to the higher class with an ultimately higher maximum or remaining under existing conditions. Some desired to remain, while others accepted promotion.
§ MR. CARLILECan the hon. Gentleman consider the State an ideal employer when it thus reduces the salaries of its employees?
§ [No Answer was returned.]