§ 42. Mr. KELLYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can explain the circumstances in which the staff of the Inland Revenue Department cannot be paid the salaries due to them on 1st April, 1929, until 2nd April; why the staff should be given unfavourable treatment as compared with the rest of the Civil Service by the non-payment of their March salaries before Easter when other civil servants will receive their pay on 28th March; and whether he can arrange for the payment of salaries in full before Easter in the Inland Revenue Department and so avoid hardship and inconvenience to the staff?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)I am con- 1844 sidering the possibility of arranging for payment to be made in these unusual circumstances, before the 1st April. I ought, however, to inform the House that whilst this arrangement will not involve increased expenditure, it will necessitate the presentation of an Excess Vote.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLWill the right hon. Gentleman see that in future the Regulation is carried out that these salaries shall be paid previous to the Bark Holiday instead of after? It has been the recognised custom.
§ Mr. HAYESMay I ask whether that portion of the Circular has been withdrawn which makes it necessary for junior officers to submit grounds of hardship before payment is made?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes; as soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I took the decision which I have now given to the House.
§ Mr. KELLYDoes the answer of the right hon. Gentleman mean that the whole salary is to be paid before the holiday?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWhatever would have been paid two or three days later, after the holidays, will be paid at this time, so that people going on their holidays will have the money which they expected to have. That is the intention, certainly.