37. Mr. J. JONESasked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the rate of pay of temporary office keepers employed in his office is 27s. 6d. per week; whether, when the war bonuses were first given, the rate was raised to 30s., and then afterwards reduced to 27s., with a result that these men have had 4s. 6d. per week less increase in wages than other men employed on similar duties in other Government Departments; whether he proposes to make this loss good to these men; and whether he will look into this matter at once?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe remuneration of unestablished office keepers in the Foreign Office, as in the Civil Service generally, is 27s. (with 25 per cent. of the total number rising by annual increments of 1s. to 30s. 6d.) a week plus full war bonus. In September, 1916, the Foreign Office temporary office keepers received 30s. a week; which was fixed with reference to war conditions and was in excess of the rate paid to other unestablished messengers. In accordance with the usual practice in other similar cases opportunity was taken on the promulgation of the general war bonus awards to adjust the rate so as to bring the total remuneration (pay, plus bonus) of the Foreign Office temporary office keepers into line with that paid to other unestablished messengers in Government service, and since 1st January, 1917, the minimum rate paid has been 27s. plus full war bonus.