§ 52. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to pay the Government employés in Ireland the same rates of wages and salaries as are being paid in England to Government employés doing similar work; if he is aware that the railway workers, postal employés, and Army employés in Ireland are not receiving the same treatment as those employed on the same class of work in Great Britain; if he is aware of the dissension which this exceptional treatment is causing; and if he will have the cause removed?
§ Mr. DUKEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The salaries assigned to permanent Civil servants belonging to classes common to the service are uniform throughout the United Kingdom; other employés are paid at rates varying, according to local conditions, not only between Great Britain and Ireland, but between different parts of Great Britain. The rates paid by private employers are, generally speaking, lower in Ireland than in Great Britain, and this consideration undoubtedly has some effect on the rates of Government wages in Ireland for persons other than permanent Civil servants. Railway servants are employed, not by the Government, but by the railway companies.
§ Mr. BYRNEWill the right hon. Gentleman state why railway workers and postal employés in Ireland receive on an average from 8s. to 10s. a week less than those in England doing similar work?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERWe must not have debates on this question. The question on the Paper is only asking for information.
§ Mr. DEVLINWhy is it that the payment of Irish employés of the Government is less than the wages paid to English employés of the Government'?
§ Mr. DEVLINIf, as the right hon. Gentleman has stated, lower wages are paid by private employers in Ireland, does that justify the Government in paying less, or is it not the function of the Government to show a good example to private employers in Ireland?