§ 47. Mr. SHAKESPEAREasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will postpone the reduction of bonus in respect of civil servants with a salary of less than £4 a week until there has been an inquiry into the computation of the cost-of-living index figure in its relation to civil servants?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEMy right hon. Friend regrets that he is not able to adopt this suggestion.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIs the Financial Secretary aware of the very widespread opinion that the basis of the index figure does not pay due regard to the great increase of rent and travelling expenses; and, in fact, is not a suitable basis for the civil servants who are forced down under the Government to the poverty level in the lower grades?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI am not aware of the facts mentioned by the hon. Member. Perhaps I might remind him of the answers given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 3rd February to the hon. Member for Willesden East (Mr. D. G. Somerville) and by the Minister of Labour on the 19th February to the hon. Member for Hallam (Mr. L. Smith).
§ Mr. KNIGHTWill the Financial Secretary inform the Chancellor of the Exchequer that it is desirable that if the application of the index figure brings the wages of these people down to below a reasonable level the matter should be considered?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAHas there been any inquiry at all as to the appropriateness of the cost-of-living index figure being applied to the Civil Service?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI am not aware of any inquiries particularly directed to that point, but, if the hon. and learned Member will read the answers to which I have referred, he will see that the matter is under consideration.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNIs not this matter being considered by the Royal Commission and is it not one of the subjects before them?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI am not in a position to know what the Royal Commission is considering, but I should imagine that it would be within their province to consider the question, and I think it might be taken that they would consider it.
§ Mr. BROWNDoes the Financial Secretary not think that this was a loose basis adopted for casual purposes before the War, and that there ought to be some scientific basis arrived at after adequate consideration?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI have already stated that the matter is under consideration.
§ Mr. BOWENIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, for some years past, there has been considerable discontent with the application of the cost-of-living index figure, the simple fact being that the Civil Service, like other people, do not believe in the foundation of it at all?