§ 33. Mr. WINDSORasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that a request has been made that employés in the building maintenance section of the Office of Works should be paid for the bank holiday, 27th December, in common with those who are direct employés; that the request has been refused on the ground that the Department has no authority to make this 391 payment to those who are not direct employés; and whether, in view of the fact that many of these indirect employés have been under the Department for many years, that they were paid for the holiday on the occasion of the last coronation, and that those who gave military service during the War received identical treatment with those who were direct employés, he will have the matter reconsidered?
Lieut.-Colonel Sir VIVIAN HENDERSON(for the FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS): The men in question are employed by a contractor, and the conditions of their employment are in no way different from those of the many thousands of men employed by contractors on Government work all over the country. My Noble Friend feels, therefore, that this is not an occasion similar to those mentioned by the hon. Member and that he would not be justified in this case in extending to the men in question the privileges enjoyed by the direct employés of the Department.
§ Mr. WINDSORIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that the engineering and gas industries have already granted these concessions, and would it not be a right and proper thing for the Government to carry out similar concessions, especially in view of peace in industry in our time?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONI am afraid I have nothing to add to the answer.