§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the action of his Department in 1148 fixing wages maxima upon a lower standard of living for Scotland as compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, and to the views recently expressed by the Secretary to the Post Office to the representatives of the Staffs' Associations, that the separate standard was justified on the ground of the Scotsman's predilection for small tenement dwellings and an oatmeal dietary; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to make the Scottish standard of wages equivalent to that of England?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe cost of living standard used for purposes of classification of towns for scales of pay was fixed by the Board of Trade for England and Ireland on the basis of inquiries made at a number of towns in those countries, and for Scotland on the basis of inquiries made at a number of Scotch towns. Representations made by the Staff Associations to the Secretary to the Post Office against this method of fixing the standard in Scotland are under consideration.
§ Mr. WATTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary said that Scotsmen are usually fed upon porridge?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, Sir; that is a travesty of his remarks.