§ 63. Mr. JESSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the London County Council, after consultation with the London County Council Staff Association, recently resolved to increase the salaries and wages of the employés of the council receiving up to and including £400 per annum by 20 per cent., for a period of twelve months dating from 1st January last, that this increase counts for sick pay, overtime and pension, and is also in addition to the war bonus which is identical with that obtaining in the Civil Service; and, if so, whether he will now confer with those associations that represent the Civil Service, with a view to the grant of a similar increase of salaries to Civil servants on the ground of the decreased purchasing power of the sovereign?
§ Mr. BALDWINMy attention has been drawn to the arrangement made by the London County Council. A claim for a further increase of war bonus made on behalf of the main classes of Civil Service has been the subject of proceedings before the Conciliation and Arbitration Board, and I understand that their award is likely to be issued at an early date.