HC Deb 04 April 1950 vol 473 cc1008-9
60. Mr. Mott-Radclyffe

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make regarding the claim put forward by women cleaners in Government Departments in Whitehall for payment at the rate of 2s. an hour.

61. Mr. J. Hynd

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the London rate for Government office cleaners for a 30-hour week is only £2 14s. 5d. before deductions; and whether he will therefore give further consideration to their claim for a rate of 2s. per hour.

67. Mr. John McKay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that women cleaners in Government Departments have to commence work at 5 a.m. and only receive 1s. 10d. per hour; and why he is refusing to discuss a request for 2s. per hour.

Sir S. Cripps

The current claim for 2s. an hour for women cleaners falls for consideration in the light of the Government's present wages policy. The effect of this policy in the Civil Service has been discussed with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council and representations by the Staff Side to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister are now being considered. The London rate for women cleaners is 1s. 9¾d. an hour. This rate was fixed by the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal just under a year ago.

Mr. Hynd

Are we to understand from that reply that my right hon. and learned Friend has not, in fact rejected further consideration of this claim, and will he give it sympathetic consideraton in view of the hard work that these women have to perform and the early hours at which they commence their duty?

Sir S. Cripps

I think it would be better if this matter were dealt with in the ordinary way between the trade unions concerned rather than on the Floor of the House.

Mr. Low

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make it quite clear that the question of reconsideration covers not only the people working in London but those working in Blackpool?

Sir S. Cripps

Naturally, we deal with all civil servants wherever they are working.

73. Mr. George Thomas

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of women cleaners employed in Government offices in Wales; and what would be the total cost involved if their application for a wage rate of 2s. an hour were granted.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay)

There are no central records of the numbers of women cleaners in Wales. The figure may be of the order of 1,000. If so, the annual cost in Wales of the granting of the higher rate claimed would be of the order of £19,000 a year.