§ 45. Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the maximum holiday and sick leave with pay allowed annually to the three highest grades of civil servants, respectively.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gaitskell)For established staff in these grades, annual leave is allowed, subject to the needs of the Service, up to 36 days a year, in addition to public and privilege holidays not exceeding nine a year. Saturday absence, however, counts as a full day's leave. The corresponding allowance before the war was 48 days, in addition to the public holidays. The reductions made during the war have thus not so far been fully restored.
Sick absence, supported by a medical certificate of incapacity, may be granted to any established civil servant up to six months on full pay in any 12 months, followed by six months on half pay. This is subject to an overriding limit of 12 months' sick leave in any period of four years.
§ Mr. OsborneIn view of the present difficulties, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this leave is rather excessive?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe hon. Member will no doubt bear in mind that there is not a five-day week in the Civil Service administrative grades, and further that it would not be right to suppose that all or by any means all civil servants in those grades take the maximum amount of leave.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerWould the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to see that any period served in a Territorial camp will not count against the annual holiday?
§ Mr. GaitskellI will look into that point.