57. Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the recent agreement, concerning no loss on promotion for ex-service permanent non-pensionable clerks in the Civil Service, has resulted in an anomaly as far as concerns ex-service men appointed to established clerical rank from the South-borough examinations.; that these clerks are candidates who were appointed between the 1st July, 1926, and the 1st October, 1927; that they are now in receipt of salaries in default of those granted to promoted permanent non 651 pensionable clerks since that date by amounts varying from £12 to £36 per annum; and will he cause further inquiry to be made into the matter?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI am not aware of any anomaly arising from the agreement to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, but if he will send me particulars of the cases which he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI think that I ought first to have the point brought before me in writing; and I will consider what the hon. and gallant Gentleman has suggested.
Sir F. HALLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these men who passed their examinations and were accepted into the service as established clerks are in a worse position than those who were rightly made permanent, because they were able to carry out their duties
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI have looked into this carefully; it is a complicated matter, and until I know exactly what the hon. and gallant Gentleman has in mind, I am not in a position to answer the question.
§ Mr. W. J. BROWNIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the anomaly to which the question draws attention has been further increased this week by an award of the Industrial Court dealing with increases and promotions, and will the hon. Gentleman re-examine the whole subject in the light of the question and the award of the Court?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI do not think that I can add anything to the answer which I have given. This is a very complicated question, and, if the anomaly, which the hon. and gallant Gentleman and the hon. Member feel exists, is clearly expressed, I will endeavour to investigate it and see what can be done.