60. Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)asked the President of the Board of Trade, if his attention has been called to the claim of Mr. C. W. Wright for arrears of pay due to him in connection with his services as local agent for the Board of Trade Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance at Penge; whether he is aware that it was arranged on Mr. Wright's appointment that his remuneration should be based on the number of unemployed books current in the area of the agency at the end of the year upon a fixed scale; that subsequently 1906 his appointment as local agent was determined and he received a fresh appointment as a temporary clerk at the Anerley Road Exchange; that on 13th November, 1913, the Board of Trade sent Mr. Wright an order for £42 5s. 10d. in full satisfaction of his claim for remuneration while acting as local agent; that this offer was refused and the Board of Trade in February, 1914, offered to pay a further sum of £10 10s. 8d. if accepted in settlement; if he can state why, if the first amount offered represented all that Mr. Wright was entitled to, the offer of a further sum was made to him; on what basis these proposed payments were calculated; what amount was due to Mr. Wright at the time his appointment as local agent was terminated on the scale of pay laid down in the Board's letter of 21st January. 1913; and if he will explain the grounds upon which Mr. Wright was discharged from his employment as temporary clerk shortly after he submitted a petition through his solicitors with regard to the-payments properly due to him?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe facts in this, case are not completely stated in the question. I am circulating with the votes a statement giving full particulars of the case referred to.—[See Written Answers this date.]
Mr. HALLCan the hon. Gentleman, to-save time, say what is the meaning of the words "books current?"
61. Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been called to allegations as to the inadequate pay received for overtime work at the Labour Exchanges in Scotland; if he can say what is the scale of overtime pay for Labour Exchange work; and whether any steps have recently been taken with reference to it?
Mr. ROBERTSONClerks employed in; the Labour Exchanges are not entitled by the terms of their appointment to any payment for overtime; and prior to April 18th, 1914, payments for overtime work were made only in respect of periods of exceptional pressure with the special sanction of His Majesty's Treasury in each case. These payments took the form of gratuities. Certain complaints were made as to the inadequacy of these gratuities. Since April 18th, 1914, a regular system of overtime pay at hourly rates, which are practically the same as those paid to clerks in other branches of the Government Service 1907 on similar scales of salary, has been in force in the Department. The rates paid are 1s. 2d. per hour for clerks on the scale of salary £110—£5—£150; 10d. per hour for clerks on the scale of salary £60—£5—£105; and 8d. per hour for clerks on the scale of 20s.—1s.—30s. per week. Temporary clerks whose remuneration is from 25s. to 35s. per week are paid for overtime work at the rate of 10d. per hour.
§ 63. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the manager at the Stratford, East, Labour Exchange on Monday, 27th July, sent a number of plasterers to Grays, Essex, to work for Messrs. Mallables, which is in dispute in connection with the London building trades lockout; if he can say why the men in question were not informed at the time that the job was in dispute; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
Mr. ROBERTSONI have caused inquiries to be made into the matter to which my hon. Friend refers. I understand that no information was in the possession of the Labour Exchange at Stratford that the firm in question was one which was affected by the dispute in the London building trade. One man only was submitted to the firm from the Stratford Exchange.