HC Deb 20 June 1944 vol 401 cc27-8
60. Mr. Kirby

asked the Minister of Health why the recent award of 7s. per week service pay to most of the full-time Civil Defence service personnel has not been granted to full-time personnel of the Civil Dead Mortuaries staff whose duties when required are distasteful and worthy of recognition.

Miss Horsbrugh

The mortuary service is not a Civil Defence (General) Service and increases of pay made to those services do not automatically apply to it. The wage scales for the personnel of the mortuary service are settled by the employing local authorities by reference to local rates of pay and conditions of service and take account of the nature of the duties.

Mr. Kirby

Will the hon. Lady consider keeping in mind the other members of the Defence Services and raise the wages of these men who are on full time and have to do very distasteful work?

Miss Horsbrugh

Their pay is upon a different basis. They get extra pay when they are doing extra work. These are employees of the local authorities and they receive extra pay when called upon to do extra work.

Mr. Kirby

While thanking the hon. Lady for that explanation, may I ask her again to consider the fact that these men have to live seven days a week and have to maintain themselves in exactly the same way as other different Civil Defence servants?

Miss Horsbrugh

I am aware of that, and I think that when I give the hon. Member the further details of their payment, he will be satisfied.