§ 21. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of watchers now serving in His Majesty's Customs and Excise, Port of London, who have not received any increase in their weekly rate of wages since 1900, excluding the recently granted good conduct allowances which are not given as an increase in the weekly rate of wages; the reason why an increase in wages has so long been denied to these watchers; and whether, in face of the official figures recently issued by the Comptroller of the Labour Department, Board of Trade, stating that the purchasing power of the sovereign has decreased from 18s. 5d. in 7900 to 16s. 3d. in 1912, he will now consider the granting of an increased rate of wages to these government employés?
§ Mr. W. BENNThe number is thirty-four. In addition, however, to the good conduct allowances, the position of these men has been improved since 1900 by the reduction from fifty-four hours to forty-eight of the weekly attendance required before they can receive overtime pay, and by the grant of a time allowance for night duty under which six hours of such duty count as seven. The good conduct allowances are only withheld from men of unsatisfactory service, and I do not understand why the hon. Member does not regard them as an increase of pay.