§ 67. Mr. JOWETTasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that girl clerks employed by the National Insurance Commissioners at the Central Office, Maida Vale, are kept at work on Saturday afternoons until four and five o'clock without any extra pay; whether he will state what are the actual hours these girls of sixteen years of age and upwards are supposed to work on Saturdays; and if he will arrange that any time worked above the regular hours shall be paid for at overtime rates and that overtime already worked shall at once be paid for?
§ Mr. MASTERMANEstablished Civil servants are allowed a half-holiday on alternate Saturdays provided that the interests of public business do not suffer. The hours of the officers referred to in the question are eight on an ordinary day and four on days allowed as half-holidays. In fact, a half-holiday has been granted to the girl clerks referred to in the hon. Member's question on four out of the last eleven Saturdays, and it is intended to grant extra half-holidays later in the year in compensation for any half-holidays lost. All the overtime of these girls has been paid for at ordinary overtime rates, but work on a Saturday before, five o'clock, when the interests of the public service do not permit of a half-holiday, cannot be paid for as overtime. The question of substituting a weekly half-holiday for a fortnightly one in the Civil Service is now under consideration.
Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)It it is proved that the interests of the State do not permit of these girls having a half-holiday every week, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of employing additional hands?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI think they will all get a half-holiday in alternate weeks, or a half-holiday to make up for any lost, unless the whole Civil Service receive a weekly half-holiday.
Mr. FRED HALLWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of employing additional hands?