§ 64. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say who has been appointed to succeed the second surveyor in the receiver's department of the Metropolitan Police, who recently retired on a pension of £344 10s. a year; what his previous experience was; what commencing remuneration he receives; and what salary his predecessor had before retirement?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe post of second surveyor has been discontinued under a recent scheme of reorganisation, and the duties, so far as they relate to the maintenance of police buildings, are now discharged by an officer designated principal assistant surveyor. The person appointed to this post is Mr. Thomas Brown. He has had more than twelve years' experience in connection with public buildings, namely, upwards of a year as assistant surveyor to the Croydon School Board, followed by eleven years as master of buildings under the Liverpool School Board, and assistant surveyor under the Education Committee of the Liverpool Corporation. His commencing salary is £350 a year. The second surveyor's salary at retirement was £530 a year.
§ Mr. TOUCHEIn view of the duties to be performed and the qualifications necessary, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider the commencing salary very inadequate?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will consider any representation the hon. Member may make.
§ 65. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if he will say how much per day the increase of pay granted this year to the temporary clerks of works in the receiver's department of the Metropolitan Police amounts to; and how many years it is since their rate of pay was previously revised?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe increase of salary is five shillings a week, which works out at tenpence a day for the working week of six days. The previous revision was in 1894.
§ 66. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary whether any representations have been made by the permanent clerks of works in the receiver's department of the Metropolitan Police in favour of an increase of remuneration; whether their application has been considered and how it has been dealt with, or whether it is now under consideration; and whether any and, if so, what increases have been granted to the surveyor and assistant surveyor since 1907, when the remuneration of the permanent clerks of works was last increased?
§ Mr. McKENNAApplications by these clerks of works for increased remuneration are now under consideration. Under a recent scheme of reorganisation the salary of the surveyor has been increased by £50 and he will receive a further increment of the same amount in 1916; and the salary of the senior assistant surveyor has been increased by £10 and he will have similar increments for the next four years.
§ Mr. TOUCHEDoes that include provision for extra duty?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think so; but I should like to have notice of the question.
§ 67. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Horne Secretary whether there are any cases of hereditary service in the receiver's department of the Metropolitan Police besides those of the chief surveyor and the son of the late second surveyor?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not think the hon. Member can mean to suggest that any appointments in the receiver's office are hereditary in the ordinary sense of the word. If he wishes to know what other instances there are in which sons of persons who have served in the Department now hold appointments in it, the answer is four—two permanent and two temporary.