§ 66. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the wages of ex-service men employed as temporary clerks in the Inland Revenue Tax Departments in Derbyshire have had, or are about to have, their wages reduced, as follows: where the pay is 65. a week by 9s. per week, and where the pay is 56s. a week by 7s. 6d. per week; and whether, seeing that the duties of these men are of a highly technical character and are practically on a par with the established staff, many of the latter having taken up this work during the War and receiving much higher pay, he will, if the reduction has already taken place, have the matter reconsidered with a view to ensuring that these men shall receive a living wage?
§ Sir JOHN BAIRD (for Mr. Hilton Young)I beg to refer to the answer given on the 14th instant to the hon. Member for Central Edinburgh (Mr. W. Graham), to which I have nothing to add at present.
§ Mr. WHITEDoes the hon. Baronet really consider that this wage is sufficient to keep these men, who have sacrificed so much for their country?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThat is not at all the point. The point is that this question is answered in the answer to which I have referred, and which says that the matter is under consideration by the National Whitley Council. That seems to be the proper body to deal with the subject.