Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the outdoor and transmission staff in the mercantile marine offices are frequently required to discharge onerous and difficult work on Sunday in connection with the payment off of merchant vessels, so as to secure that seamen discharging on Sunday shall go direct to their homes and not fall into the hands of undesirable persons; that the outdoor and transmission staffs receive no Sunday pay for such Sunday work which they are compelled to undertake; that other established civil servants of a similar grade are in receipt of Sunday pay for Sunday work; and whether he will take steps forthwith to secure that, so far as it may be necessary to employ the outdoor and transmission staffs on Sunday, they shall receive proper payment for such Sunday work.
Mr. BUXTONOut-door and transmission officers attached to Mercantile Marine Officers are, and always have been, required to discharge duties on Sundays when necessary, but I have for some time had under consideration the whole question of week-day and Sunday duties, and the remuneration of these officers.