§ 19. Mr. LOGAN(for Mr. THORNE) asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will reconsider the decision to stop the privilege of funeral leave granted to the industrial staff of his Department, in view of the fact that this concession has been granted for many years, and that, covering the 2,500 men affected, the saving will not amount to more than 30 days' pay a year on the average?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The decision was taken, in consultation with the Treasury, only after full consideration had been given to the representations of the Departmental Joint Industrial Council. The saving admittedly will be small, but the determining factors were that the concession did not operate either in any other Government industrial establishments or in outside industry generally. There are, in my opinion, no adequate grounds for according exceptional treatment to the staff of one Department, and I regret that I am unable to find myself justified in modifying the decision.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe decision was taken in order to bring one anomalous Department into line with all other Government Departments.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not the fact that many large employers outside concede to their employes a right to attend a funeral without a reduction of wages; and does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the anomaly could have been removed by conceding to other Government Departments this small privilege?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have no power to do anything with regard to other Government Departments. In the Civil Service, all Departments must, obviously, be upon a fair and equal basis.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have gone personally into the matter and I do not think, having regard to the general practice, that I should be justified in seeking to press the Treasury to apply to all other Government Departments the concession which has been granted in my Department.