§ 33. Sir WALTER de FRECEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the large number of Civil Service questions brought to the notice of Members of the House and the Civil Service problems now coming before the Government; whether he will consider the re-establishment of the Civil Service Arbitration Board, of which the great majority of the House have already expressed approval; whether he can without delay re-establish the Southborough Committee and, if necessary, broaden its terms of reference to embrace all the points at issue, both of women and ex-service men; and whether he will make a definite announcement on the subject?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. W. Graham)As the answer is a long one, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the principle of arbitration in the Civil Service has been agreed; the application of the principle is being considered by a committee of official and staff representatives, and I hope it will be possible to reach a decision at an early date. As regards the third and fourth parts of the question, the Southborough Committee is about to resume its deliberations. As has previously been explained, it is open to the Committee, if they find that difficulties have arisen in the application of the recommendations of the Lytton Committee, to suggest what 1901 amendments or modifications are desirable in order to give full effect to the policy of preferential treatment of ex-service men. Two Reports have been issued on this basis, and I see no necessity for altering the terms of reference in the manner suggested.