HC Deb 05 December 1912 vol 44 cc2485-6
59. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked how many surveyors (late supervisors of Excise) have been engaged on duties under the National Insurance Act; what special remuneration has been paid to them for such extra duties; and, if no remuneration has been given, is it intended to remunerate those surveyors who have been given no present or prospective payment for the duties in question?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I am not able to state the number of surveyors (late Excise supervisors) who have had duties to do under the National Insurance Act. A certain number of surveyors (late Excise supervisors and assistant supervisors) have received improvement in salary under the concessions made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in May last, but no particular concession was ear-marked by my right hon. Friend as special remuneration for insurance work. To meet the increase of work the number of surveyors has been considerably increased, and clerical assistance has been given to surveyors where required.

60. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked what remuneration has been given to officers and surveyors of Customs and Excise for extra duties in connection with the National Insurance Act (Part I.); and if no remuneration has been given or will be received for a period of from two to twenty years by the officers and the great bulk of the surveyors concerned?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I can add nothing to the replies which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Horncastle on the 14th and 20th ultimo, in which he ex- plained the conditions under which the new duties under the Insurance Act were entrusted to the Customs and Excise service, except to point out that the staff of the Department was largely increased by reference to these new duties.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Are we to understand that the only remuneration given for this extra work is an increase in the maximum salary of £20 a year which will not be reached for something like twenty years?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I am not sure what the new conditions were, but the extra work was considered when the new conditions were fixed.