§ 84. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if, considering the fact that the wages of the clerks on the staff of the engineering services of the Army were as follows in 1831, namely, for the first seven years 4s. 6d. a day, after seven years 5s. 6d. a day, after 14 years 6s. 6d. a day, after 21 years 7s. 6d. a day, and that to-day, 84 years later, the wages are for the first three years 4s. per day, after third year 4s. 6d. a day, after six years 5s. a day, after nine years 5s. 6d. a day, and considering that the wages of most classes of workpeople have been very considerably raised in the meantime, and in consideration also of the increase in the cost of living, he will take into immediate consideration the question of advancing the wages of these clerks to something like a reasonable and living wage?
Mr BAKERThe rates of wages quoted by the hon. Member now current are confined to clerks engaged for purely routine duties. The question of making some addition to these wages in consideration of present circumstances is already under consideration.