§ 75. Mr. THOMAS RICHARDSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether Labour Exchange clerks are not paid their salaries regularly every week, that some weeks they receive nothing, and other weeks they receive more than the equivalent of two weeks' pay; if so, whether arrangements can be made to divide the quarterly salary into equal weekly payments; whether there is any prospect of the amount of overtime now being worked by these clerks without remuneration being reduced; and whether consideration is to be given to the advisability of paying these men for extra work done?
§ The PRESIDENT Of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)Labour Exchange clerks are only entitled under their con- 622 tracts of service to be paid monthly, but in order to meet their convenience it has been the practice to make regular weekly payments of salary on account. Certain minor adjustments have to be made in respect of broken periods at the beginning of an officer's service, or at the end of a quarter, but this should in no case involve the consequences suggested by my hon. Friend. A great "deal of overtime work has been rendered necessary, especially during January, by the preliminary administration of unemployed insurance, but there is every prospect of reducing this largely in the immediate future. Gratuities will be paid to Labour Exchange clerks in respect of overtime worked during the present month.