§ 48. Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYasked the Prime Minister whether the Government is pledged to pay till September more than 21s. a week to boys under 15 years of age; and whether, in the event of the Government being thus committed, he will, taking the heavy burden of taxation into consideration, reconsider the decision to pay 18s. a week subsequently, especially in view of the wages ruling in private enterprise?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hilton Young)There is no such general pledge as that referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. The current remuneration of a boy whose basic wage is 8s. a week would be 21st 3d. a week, and it is estimated that the reduction of bonus on the 1st September next will reduce the total remuneration to about 18s. a week. The bonus payable to these boys is fixed in accordance with the general scheme of Civil Service bonus, and on this subject I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to a question put on the 28th instant by the hon. and gallant Member for the Henley Division of Oxfordshire (Captain B. Terrell), in which I state that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to take an early opportunity of making a statement on the question of Civil Service bonus.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMay we take it, from the last sentence of the reply of the hon. Gentleman, that there is an intention of reducing this very high wage paid in certain Government Departments after 1st September next?
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are many sons of profiteers, who have never done a day's work in their lives, who get 24s. a week pocket-money?