§ 19. Mr. INSKIPasked the Minister of Labour what salary the divisional controller of the Employment Exchange in the Bristol area is paid, including war bonus; and whether any increase has been made within the last six months or is in contemplation?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. and learned Friend no doubt refers to the divisional controller for the Southwestern Division of the country who is responsible for the work of all the local offices of the Employment and Insurance Department of the Ministry in the counties of Gloucester, Wilts, Hants, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and the Isle of Wight. The salaries of all the nine divisional controllers in Great Britain have, during the last year, been raised to £1,000 a year (exclusive of bonus) in consideration of the great increase of work and responsibility resulting from the extension of Unemployment Insurance. Prior to 1st July, 1920, such officers received £850–£950 a year exclusive of bonus. No further increase is contemplated.
§ Mr. INSKIPIs it a fact that with the War bonus the divisional controller of each of these areas receives something over £1,600 a year, and that from the date mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman this salary and bonus were increased, although the duties had not increased?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIn this particular case the salary with bonus is £1,690. Let me add that this gentleman supervises an area of 10,900 square miles. He has 207 Employment Exchanges in his care, and 728,065 insured persons. I desire to pay the most sincere tribute to the value of his services to the public.
§ Mr. INSKIPIs it the fact that this gentleman has not been trained in industrial affairs at all, and that he has been trained in other capacities, with experience quite outside industrial affairs?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThat I cannot say. If my hon. and learned Friend will see the work that this officer supervises and note the enormous volume of it, he will agree that I am entitled to a first-rate man, and that this gentleman is.
§ Sir C. YATEHow many applicants were there for this post?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThis is not a new appointment. It has been held for some considerable time. If the hon. and gallant Member wants me to look up the archives, I will do so.
§ 20. Mr. INSKIPasked the Minister of Labour what salary, including war bonus, is paid to women clerks of the ages respectively of 18 and 19 in the Bristol Employment Exchange; and whether the women clerks in question are required to have any special training or education beyond that of the ordinary school curriculum?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere are two classes of women clerks in the Bristol Exchange at present—permanent and temporary Permanent women clerks, whose commencing salary is £52 a year up to the age of 18 and £75 at 18, are obtained by open competitive examination conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners, and the competition is keen. The bonus at present payable on the salaries of £52 and £75 is £85 16s. and £123 15s. per annum respectively. The rate of pay for temporary women clerks between the ages of 18 and 21, engaged on routine clerical duties in the Bristol Employment Exchange, is 43s. inclusive for a week of 44 hours. The qualifications required are clerical ability together with aptitude to deal promptly and courteously with the miscellaneous inquiries received.
§ Mr. INSKIPIs it a fact that women clerks of 18 and 19 years of age receive from £198 to £212 a year for doing the ordinary work which a girl who leaves the elementary school is able to do? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a salary of £212 is too much for an unmarried girl of 18 years?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have given my hon. and learned Friend the fixed salaries, with the bonuses which were added by the Treasury National Whitley Council. With regard to these girls, if my hon. and learned Friend will do me the favour of 2143 visiting the Victoria Street Employment Exchange, Bristol, he will, I feel sure, come here and pay a tribute to the staff's patience in a difficult task.
§ Colonel ASHLEYDo they, as a matter of fact, find any jobs for the unemployed?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes; I could give my hon. and gallant Friend a return. Even during these times of grave industrial depression they have found something like 750,000 places for the unemployed throughout the country during the last twelve months.
§ Mr. INSKIPI beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Motion for Adjournment to-night.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs it not the case that these questions are mostly asked by people with £5,000 a year?