72. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether there has been any revision during the last four years of the payments made to the attendants and employés of the House for their attendance during the late sittings; whether some of these receive no additional payment unless the sitting of the House be prolonged after 5.30 a.m.; and whether arrangements can be made for a more adequate system of payment for overtime whenever the House sits after midnight?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second in the affirmative. The salaries which the attendants receive have always been considered as covering the performance of all duties discharged during the Session, but an allowance is given when the sitting of the House is 1563 prolonged beyond 5.30 a.m. Any alteration of the existing arrangements must be made by the House of Commons Offices Commission.
Mr. E. HARVEYIs there any possibility of having any regular machinery for revising these from time to time?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe House of Commons Offices Commission, the composition of which I can inform the hon. Member.
Mr. E. HARVEYIs it possible for the proceedings of that august Commission to be reviewed in any way in the House?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am afraid I cannot tell the hon. Member without notice.