§ 52. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many male civil servants of 21 years of age and over are at present paid £3 a week or less; and how many of these are in the London area?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThe number of male full-time non-industrial civil servants of 21 years of age and over at present in receipt of wages or salaries of £3 per week or less—inclusive of bonus based on a cost-of-living figure of 55—is estimated at 58,000. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.
§ Mr. BOWENCan my hon. Friend give us the information regarding industrial employés as well as non-industrial? The question is not limited to one or the other.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIf my hon. Friend will put down that question, I will endeavour to give him an answer.
Sir F. HALLIs it not possible to give the information asked for in the last part of the question? Have they not the addresses where they live? Cannot he tell us whether they are in the London area or not?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEWe have not the information which would enable us to give the answer.
§ Mr. BOWENIs the hon. Member aware of the seething discontent in the Civil Service arising from these difficulties, and is he prepared to take some steps to alleviate the difficulties which these figures demonstrate?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI am quite sure that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer regrets that it has not been possible for him to take the steps which he has taken in previous years, but he has already pointed out that the state of the national finances prevents him from taking that course.