HC Deb 06 August 1925 vol 187 cc1553-4
76. Sir F. HALL

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the statement that a scheme of reorganisation has been approved providing uniform grades and scales of pay for pay and record offices, and of the very considerable delay in arriving at a decision in this matter, he can now state definitely when the approved scheme will be put into operation?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Captain Douglas King)

As regards the established grades in the new scheme for War Department clerks, namely, Grade 3 and above, the introduction of the new scales of pay depends upon the settlement of the permanent complement of the three grades in each office. This matter is being pressed on as rapidly as possible, but a great deal of work is involved. As regards Grade 4 (Unestablished), I am glad to say that it has been found possible to introduce the new scales of pay forthwith, and the necessary instructions to War Department establishments generally, including pay and record offices, were issued on the 1st instant.

Sir F. HALL

May I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman whether, seeing that the record office have only two increments and the pay office five increments, and, as he indicated some months ago, that they were all going to be put on the same footing, he is in a position to say now when the actual additional increments will be paid to these various Departments?

Captain KING

My hon. and gallant Friend is aware that the payments will be made retrospective to the 1st April of last year. We have to consider the claims of some 4,000 clerks in some hundreds of offices throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and it requires a considerable amount of work to go into the details.

Sir F. HALL

Seeing that this has been so very many months now under discussion, does the hon. and gallant Member not think that he should have had the information with regard to these 4,000 clerks long before now, and does he recognise that many of these people are very surprised that the Government should take such a long time in the matter?

Captain KING

I do not think there is any undue delay.

Sir GEORGE HUME

When is it hoped that the matter will be settled?

Captain KING

In my answer I indicated that it is impossible to say, but there is no unnecessary delay.