HC Deb 26 April 1923 vol 163 cc653-5
45. Mr. FRANK GRAY

asked the Prime Minister whether he will inform the House whether the special Committee set up to report on the initial salary as permanent civil servants of extemporary clerks appointed to permanent posts will cover all ex-temporary clerks appointed to the clerical and writing assistant classes since the end of the War?

46. Mr. PRINGLE

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Resolution of the hon. Member for East Fife in regard to initial salary was not restricted to ex-temporary civil servants, who were technically Lytton entrants, but covered all ex-temporary clerks appointed to established classes since the end of the War, he can state on what grounds the terms of reference to the special Committee on this matter are confined to persons covered by paragraph 43 of the Lytton Report; and whether he can assure the House that the terms of reference will be so amended as to enable the Committee to cover other categories of ex-temporaries appointed to established classes since the end of the War?

94. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the limitations of the reference of the Lytton Committee of inquiry, he will extend the scope of the inquiry so that this body will be aide to deal effectively with all claims which it may think to be unfounded?

101. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the case of ex-temporary clerks appointed to writing assistant posts in the Civil Service will be considered by the special Committee recently set up to deal with the matters arising out of the Lytton Report?

105. Mr. HAYES

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it will be competent for the Committee set up to inquire into the initial rates of pay of ex-temporary clerks appointed to permanent posts in the Civil Service to deal with the initial salaries of those extemporary clerks appointed to the writing assistant class?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Baldwin)

As I explained on Thursday last, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne, the terms of reference to the Committee will cover not only those who are technically Lytton entrants, but also all entrants, men and women, ex-service and non-service, to the clerical and departmental clerical classes from the special competitions limited to temporary staffs.

The reference thus covers all classes which could fairly be brought within the definition of Lytton entrant, and I do not think it would be right to complicate the issue by bringing before a committee set up to examine the effect of the Lytton Committee's Report the claims of writing assistants or of any other class of civil servant for an improvement in their rates of pay.

I would add, with special reference to the writing assistant class, that no ex-service men have been appointed to that class and that the claim for an improvement of the rates of pay of writing assistants was raised quite independently of the claim of Lytton entrants and has not been regarded even by the staff elements as having any integral connection with the latter claim. In fact, the matter has recently been raised separately on the Civil Service National Whitley Council and is now under consideration by that body, the proposal being to set up a special committee of the Council to examine the whole question of the conditions of service of the writing assistant class.

In these circumstances I feel sure that hon. Members will not desire to set aside the existing machinery while in operation, a fact of which the House was not aware during the recent Debates.

Mr. DUNCAN MILLAR

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in moving my Resolution I included the figure of 9,000 cases, which I gave, and which I asked to be dealt with?

Mr. BALDWIN

The hon. Member is perfectly correct, but I have studied with great care every speech made in the debate, which I was unfortunately prevented from attending. While what the hon. Member says is quite true, the speeches made by the hon. Members for Carlisle (Mr. Middleton), Dartford (Mr. Jarrett), Edge Hill (Mr. Hayes), and South-West St. Pancras (Major Barnett) dealt entirely with the case of the ex-service men and Lytton entrants. Having regard to the latter part of my reply, I feel that I have done my utmost to meet what I believe to be the general desire of the House in stating the terms of reference.

Mr. JARRETT

When will the right hon. Gentleman be able to announce the names of the Committee?

Mr. BALDWIN

I hope to be able to do so at the beginning of next week.