§ 55. Mr. W. J. BROWNasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, as the result of the recent reduction in the Civil Service bonus, girls are employed in certain Departments of the Civil Service on a full-time basis on rates of pay as low as 12s. 2d. per week; and what steps he proposes to take to stop such sweating in Government establishments?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)I understand that the girls employed at this rate of pay are newly entered learners aged 15 years conditioned to a 39-hour week. As the hon. Member is aware, their wages will automatically increase with age; and at the age of 18, subject to satisfactory service, they will pass into a grade rising, at current rates, from 26s. 3d. to 41s. per week.
§ Mr. BROWNDoes the Financial Secretary regard this rate of 12s. 2d. a week as in any way a justifiable and defensible rate for a Labour Government to pay for full-time labour?
§ Mr. SPEAKERSir William Davison.
| — | Numbers of Industrial and non-industrial staffs on let January, 1930. | Salaries and ages, Quarter ended 31st December, 1929. | Numbers of Industrial and non-industrial staffs on 1st July, 1930. | Salaries and Wages, Quarter ended 31st March, 1930.* | |
| £ | £ | ||||
| Inland Revenue | … | 21,486 | 1,570,089 | 21,861 | 1,576,496 |
| Customs and Excise | … | 11,623 | 984,544 | 11,685 | 1,002,385 |
| Other Departments | … | 401,973 | 18,964,384 | 410,246 | 19,298,960 |
| Totals | … | 435,082 | 21,519,017 | 443,792 | 21,807,841 |
| * This is the latest date for which information as to the cost of salaries and wages is available. |
§ 58. Mr. W. J. BROWNasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of civil servants of all grades, excluding the Post Office, employed at the latest convenient date in 1913, and the total cost in wages and salaries; the corresponding numbers and cost at the latest convenient current date; and the average percentage increase in cost per head as compared with the latest cost-of-living index figure?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEExcluding the Post Office, the number of civil servants of all grades employed in 1929-30 was 209,268 with salaries and wages amounting to £48,676,766. The comparable figures for 1913-14 were 156,600 and £20,020,000, respectively. This shows an average increase in cost per head of
§ Mr. SPEAKERAn answer did not seem to be forthcoming, so I called the next question.