HC Deb 03 February 1931 vol 247 cc1626-7
53. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before proceeding with the proposed reduction in the cost-of-living bonus for the Civil Service, he will satisfy himself that the cost-of-living figure evolved by the Ministry of Labour can be applied with fairness to the living conditions of all classes of civil servants?

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

The general question of the remuneration of the Civil Service is now the subject of inquiry by a Royal Commission, and, no doubt, the present arrangements governing the payment of bonus will need to be reviewed in the light of the recommendations of that body. But in the meantime I am not prepared to vary the terms of the existing bonus agreement.

Mr. W. J. BROWN

Is it not the case that the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, presumably acting on behalf of the right hon. Gentleman, has expressed the view that the Commission ought to make no recommendations dealing with this point?

Mr. SNOWDEN

I am not aware of that.

55. Mr. ANNESLEY SOMERVILLE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the figure at which the rate of Civil Service bonus will be paid when next changed; and the Ministry of Labour cost-of-living index figure as at 2nd February, 1931?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The cost-of-living figure for February has not yet been published; and it is therefore not yet possible to say what will be the average figure for the six months from September, 1930, to February, 1931, inclusive, which determines the rate of payment of bonus for the six months beginning 1st March, 1931.

58. Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the recently announced decision that the bonus to the Civil Service will be assessed in future in exact accord with the cost of living comes into force; whether the service bonus in future will be assessed on the lines of the existing six-months' average or on the monthly figure; what will be the immediate fall in the bonus as expressed both in points and in values; and whether the super-cut will now be abandoned?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The decision referred to becomes operative on 1st March next, when, in accordance with the terms of the existing agreement, bonus will be revised in relation to the average cost-of-living figure for the preceding six months. The rate cannot, therefore, be decided until the cost-of-living figure for the present month is known. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

71. Mr. LOUIS SMITH

asked the Minister of Labour if she can state the items considered in arriving at the monthly cost-of-living index, together with the price of each which was used in evolving the cost-of-living index figure for January, 1931;

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for January, on page 37 of which are given the latest statistics relating to the cost of living, with particulars of the items included within the scope of the index figure.