§ 68. Mr. John MacLeodasked the Minister of Transport why his Department have agreed to pay a grant to the Ross and Cromarty County Council in respect of an increase in salary to the county road surveyor only from 1st August, 1951, when the council have paid the increase retrospectively from 16th May, 1951, in view of the fact that when increased salary scales are approved by Government Departments in respect of officers of the county council such as police, teachers, milk officers, etc., such increases are always paid retrospectively by Government Departments and the county council are expected to pay their share from that date.
§ Mr. MaclayIt is not the practice to pay retrospective grants from the Road Fund. Special considerations arise when salaries are increased in accordance with a national agreement which itself provides for retrospective application.
§ Mr. MacLeodSurely if the Government admit responsibility for making a retrospective payment in the other Departments, they should also admit the responsibility in this case.
§ Mr. MaclayThe position is rather different, because when there is a national agreement which itself provides for retrospective application, obviously one has to honour it.