71. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider granting the 1,768 persons of the railway staff earning between £500 and £1,000 a year some lump sum to compensate them for the lack of increased salaries during the war, at the cessation of hostilities, having regard to the fact that the Government, under agreement with the railways, were making substantially larger sums than were contemplated at the time the agreement was entered into?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Mr. Noel-Baker)I regret that the suggestion put forward by the hon. Member is not one which my Noble Friend feels able to adopt.
Mr. De la BèreAre we to understand that these 1,768 are to endure a permanent injustice because my Noble Friend does not like my suggestion? Is it not possible to have justice in some form for these people, considering all the hardships they have to suffer?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIf the hon. Member will examine the matter, he will see that the reasons which led my Noble Friend and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make their original decision will also apply to his present proposals.
Mr. De la BèreWill my hon. Friend tell us the reasons? There seems to be no reason for doing an injustice of this kind.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIf the hon. Member will examine the original answer, he will see what the reasons are.