§ MR. S. COLLINS (Lambeth, Kennington)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the higher salaries prescribed by the Order in Council of 21st December, 1907, were afforded to second division clerks on the ground that their salaries under the Order in Council of 21st March, 1890, were inadequate during the earlier years of service; and, if so, will he explain why the lower salaries under the latter Order in Council, to which second division clerks in the Estate Duty Office are required to revert on promotion to the first division, are considered sufficient to enable these clerks to support themselves in their higher states.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.
§ MR. S. COLLINSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that it is usual for a clerk upon promotion to be given the prospect of a higher maximum salary as well as to receive an immediate increase of pay, he will explain why, in the case of second division clerks in the Estate Duty Office promoted to the first division, the conferring of a higher maximum is to be accompanied by a substantial reduction of salary.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEI would refer my hon. friend to previous replies which I have given on this subject on 10th November and 13th July, 1908.