§ 54. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the delay to the presentation of the case of the super-cut of the War Bonus, which the staff side of the National Whitley Council desire to submit to the Civil Service Arbitration Court; and what are the reasons which prevent the Government, through the official side of the council, from agreeing to terms of remit to the court?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Winston Churchill)I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer which I gave to him on the 20th April in reply to a similar question.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIf the decision of the Treasury is ultimately going to be in the negative to this scheme, is it not possible to say "No'' straight away?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat is not the only question which we are considering. Apart from the special question of whether this advance should be agreed to now or not, on which we have a per- 1831 fectly clear opinion in the negative, there is also the question of the general responsibility of the Government in regard to these matters.