§ 52. Mr. BROCKWAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the lowest wage paid to clerical and non-clerical workers employed by the various departments of State in London and the provinces, respectively, including those in the post service and the Exchanges of the Ministry of Labour?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)The information collected as the result of my hon. Friend's previous question of the 17th June is on the basis of industrial and non-industrial staffs, the latter including both clerical and non-clerical workers. As the reply involves a table of figures, I will, with the permission of my hon. Friend, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYIs it not a fact that the wages are now below 37s. 6d. in many eases, and, if so, will the hon. Gentleman postpone any further reductions until the Government have had time to consider the forthcoming Report of the Royal Commission?
§ Mr. PETHICK - LAWRENCEI thought I had answered that question several times in the House. The Report
| —— | Lowest wages paid to any adult employee for a full working week. | |||||||||||||||
| Non-industrial. | Industrial. | |||||||||||||||
| London. | Provinces. | London. | Provinces. | |||||||||||||
| Men. | Women. | Men. | Women. | Men. | Women. | Men. | Women. | |||||||||
| Per week. | Per week. | Per week. | Per week. | Per week. | Per week. | Per week. | Per week. | |||||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | |
| Post Office | 41 | 1(a) | 34 | 6 | 32 | 7(d) | 31 | 6 | 46 | 6(f) | 30 | 0 | 43 | 5(h) | 26 | 0 |
| Ministry of Labour (Exchanges). | 45 | 0(b) | 34 | 2 | 38 | 9(e) | 27 | 11 | — | — | — | — | ||||
| All other Departments. | 40 | 4 (c) | 26 | 0 | 32 | 7 | 24 | 5 | 38 | 9(g) | 26 | 0 | 24 | 11 (i) | 21 | 0 |
| (a) Rising to 68s. 1d. per week plus free uniform and medical attendance. | ||||||||||||||||
| (b) Rising to 52s. 9d. per week plus free uniform. | ||||||||||||||||
| (c) Rising to 50s. 4d. per week. | ||||||||||||||||
| (d) Rising to 56s. 10d. per week plus free uniform and medical attendance. | ||||||||||||||||
| (e) Rising to 41s. lid. per week plus free uniform. | ||||||||||||||||
| (f) Minimum of a wages range rising to 49s. 8d. per week. | ||||||||||||||||
| (g) Rising to 54s. 3d. per week. | ||||||||||||||||
| (h) Minimum of a wages range rising to 46s. 6d. per week. | ||||||||||||||||
| (i) Excluding emoluments in kind to the value of about 3a. per week. |
§ of the Royal Commission is expected next month, and any fall in the bonus does not normally take effect, but should there be a fall, according to the regulations it must be considered before the beginning of September, and therefore there will be plenty of time to consider the Report of the Royal Commission before further changes in the bonus take place.
§ Mr. E. BROWNIs the Financial Secretary aware that hon. Members are receiving letters on this subject?
§ Mr. BROCKWAYMay I ask whether it is not merely a matter of the Report being published, but is a matter of a decision being reached upon that Report; and will a decision be reached in time for this House to give an expression of opinion on the Report before the reductions come into force?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEQuite clearly, until the Report is in the hands of my right hon. Friend, I cannot announce a decision upon a hypothetical question.
§ Mr. BECKETTCan the hon. Gentleman say how many are paid under 37s. 6d.?
§ Following is the Table: