§ 88. Mr. D. GRAHAMasked the Minister of Transport whether the higher paid railway officials, whose salaries range from £400 to £8,000 per annum, are in receipt of war bonuses ranging from £100 to £300 per annum; if so, whether he will consider the question of increasing the bonuses of the lower paid staff, upon whom the burden of the high cost of living has fallen with greater severity than upon the higher paid officials; whether it is proposed to further increase the bonuses paid to the higher officials; and, if so, whether an opportunity will be given to the House to express its opinion on the matter before such increase is agreed to?
§ Mr. NEALThe war bonus received by the higher paid railway officials is limited to a maximum of £300, which is a considerably smaller percentage on their salaries than in the case of the lower paid staff. Improved scales of pay have been agreed upon for the lower paid clerical staff on British railways, and these will be brought into operation, with retrospective effect, when the classification of posts has been settled. It is not proposed at present to increase the bonus to the higher paid officials.