§ 37. Mr. GEORGE GREENWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the fact that the employés of the Post Office received a war bonus some months ago, he can see his way to grant a similar bonus to the staff of the Labour Exchanges, seeing that the work, which is of national importance, has considerably increased and the purchasing power of the wages depreciated?
§ Mr. GEORGE THORNEput a similar question.
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)The Board of Trade have submitted the question of the grant of a war bonus to the clerical staff of their Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Department for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, and have received a reply intimating that their lordships cannot regard the conditions of appointment or service in the Department as justifying any departure from the general decision of His Majesty's Government; that a case has not been made out for throwing upon the taxpayer at the present time the heavy additional burden which would be involved by the grant of a war bonus to the subordinate staff in the civil establishments. This reply has been communicated to the officers concerned. A further memorial on the subject has been received from the Federation of Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Clerks' Associations, and this is under consideration.