§ 41. Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the nature of the reply he gave to the deputation from the staff side of the National Whitley Council regarding the application of the cost-of-living bonus to the Civil Service?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENI received the deputation this morning. I have arranged for the issue in the usual way to the Press of a report of the proceedings.
Sir F. HALLIn a case like this, is is not only fair to Members of this House that they should have the reply, in preference to the Press?
§ Mr. SNOWDENIt was out of consideration to the House itself, and to the time of the House, that I gave that reply. The reply I gave was that I am taking into consideration the representations that were made.
§ 47. Mr. HANNONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can Indicate the probable date of publication of the report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service; and if he will give an undertaking to the House not to impose further cuts in the cost-of-living bonus of civil servants until the Government have had full opportunity of giving consideration to the report of the Royal Commission?
§ 48. Mr. BEAUMONT THOMASasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will undertake not to impose further cuts in the cost-of-living bonus of civil servants until the Government has given the report of the Royal Commission their full consideration?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)I will take these two questions together, and I would refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on the 9th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby (Mr. Raynes).
§ Mr. HANNONDoes that mean that no change will be made pending the report of the Royal Commission?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI have already pointed out that the report of the Royal Commission is expected quite shortly, and that that would be taken into full consideration before the time when the change in the bonus takes place. It will be fully considered at that time.
§ Mr. HANNONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, if this cut takes place, the greatest possible hardship will be inflicted upon a large number of public servants?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIt is quite clear that the hon. Gentleman does not seem to realise the chronology of the dates. The time when the change would take place would be the 1st September. This report is due out, probably, at the end of next week. Therefore, there is plenty of time between that and the 1st September.
§ Mr. W. J. BROWNMay I ask the Minister whether he is reasonably sure that he will be able to make a statement in the House on this matter before the House adjourns for the autumn Recess?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI cannot promise that.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the fact that the minimum wage in many of these classes is now 35s. per week, he can give an undertaking not to reduce the wages further until this House has had an opportunity to discuss the matter?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI cannot add anything to what I have already said. The Government will take into account the findings of the Royal Commission and will consider them, and the opportunity for doing that will be before any change takes place in the bonus.
§ Mr. BROWNMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman does not realise that there is a very general interest in this matter, that there is a general desire that the House itself shall have an opportunity of speaking upon this matter before any further cut is imposed, and that, unless a statement is made before the House adjourns, by the time we come back the unhappy consequences will have taken place?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThere is nothing for me to add. In any case, I have no control over the time of the House.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCannot we address one of these questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as he is here?