43. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Government employés have been granted a special six days' holiday with pay on the basis of two days for each year of service; whether Government servants who are already entitled to annual holiday with pay are receiving this special holiday in addition; whether he is aware that this concession is being withheld from men employed in the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum; and whether he will state the reason for this discrimination?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)During the present calendar year an extra week's leave with pay will, subject to the requirements of the public service, be granted to such permanent employés of Government Departments as are entitled under existing Regulations to a period of ordinary leave with pay. I understand that the men referred to in the question are employed on the same terms of service as men in outside industry engaged on similar work; their terms of service do not include the grant of ordinary leave with pay, and I am not prepared to extend to them the benefits of the extra leave concession in question.
§ Mr. BALDWINHowever they are paid, they are not Civil servants. Their wages are covered by the scale of pay in outside industry, and they get various benefits which are not extended to those who are in the Civil Service, and no such terms as a specified holiday enter into their terms of service at all.