§ 59. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 1110 temporary male clerks under 21 who served in the War were represented on the staff associations who came to an agreement as to the rate of pay of clerks under 21; and why men under 21 who were considered fit to serve their country in the fighting line when under 21 are not fit to receive the same rate of pay for the same work as those who have attained the age of 21 and never served in the Army at all?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Baldwin)I have no specific information with regard to the number and age of ex-service constituents of the various staff associations with whom the agreement to which the hon. Member refers was concluded, but there is no doubt that temporary male clerks who served in the Forces during the War were represented as well as other temporary male staff. The arrangement under which the pay of temporary clerks increases progressively at certain age-points is common to the Civil Service, and is based upon general considerations which are as applicable to ex-service men as to men who did not serve with the Forces.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of my question?
§ Mr. BALDWINI have already explained that it is quite impossible to draw any distinction of that kind. If we give a clerk more money owing to the fact that he is an ex-service man, it would be impossible to limit the payment to men under 21 years of age.