§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the proposed staff of permanent architectural draughtsmen and technical assistants is intended to include all the men in the present staff classed and certificated as architectural assistants; and whether he will see that the misnomer draughtsmen formerly applied to these professional men but remedied, at the request of the class, to architectural assistants in 1907 shall not be again reverted to?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)The answer to the first question is in the negative. Only those gentlemen who are eligible under the new scheme are intended to be included in the proposed new class. If there is a general desire, the name of the proposed establishment can be altered.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWhat is the meaning of the phrase: "Who are eligible under the new scheme"?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNThe scheme, which is under consideration, lays down certain conditions, and if those conditions are satisfied they will be asked if they desire to be included in the proposed new-class.
§ Mr. SNOWDENHave they been asked already?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNI cannot say. The scheme is under consideration.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works. whether, in view of the undertaking made by his predecessor in this House on 7th December last that the desires of all of the class termed architectural assistants engaged in the Office of Works shall be ascertained if they desire to be placed upon the established list, he is aware that no such inquiry has been made; and whether he can now state how soon this undertaking will be carried into, effect?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNSo soon as the scheme now before the Treasury, has 9 been approved the desires of all those gentlemen who are eligible for appointment to established rank as architectural or technical assistants as the case may be will be ascertained.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that his proposal would lower the status of those professional men engaged for years in his Department and termed and certificated as architectural assistants by their inclusion in the proposed staff of architectural draughtsmen and technical assistants; and whether he is aware that the professional ability and duties performed by this class are at the least equivalent to the class termed assistant architects, and therefore will he consider the justice of awarding in return equivalent conditions of service to all the class in question to that now granted to assistant architects' class?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNThe First Commissioner is not of opinion that his proposal will involve any lowering of the status of those gentlemen, but if they object to the designation of architectural draughtsmen he is quite ready to style them architectural assistants. The hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that the professional abilities and duties of these two classes are the same.