§ 28. Mr. J. Howardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the result of the research into the work revaluation claim of the Reproduction A grades of the Ordnance Survey Department will be made known.
§ 30. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a reply may be expected to the claim of the Reproduction A grade of Ordnance Survey for work revaluation, which was made on 15th November, 1957.
§ Mr. GodberMy right. hon. Friend hopes it will be possible to send a reply to the staff association concerned about the end of this month.
§ Mr. HowardWhile being extremely obliged to my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he does not agree that the claim which was lodged in November, 1957, has taken an extraordinarily long time to be considered, and will he ensure that the word "soon" is not used again in fixing any further date ahead?
§ Mr. GodberYes, I do realise that it has taken a very considerable amount of time, but it was a very complicated claim. I am told that the initial claim was based on a pay increase awarded to a different class of staff, the cartographic draughtsmen, and it was not possible to accept the claim in this form. Therefore, there had to be further discussions which took some considerable time. I am glad to say that we hope, as I indicated in the previous reply, to send a reply at about the end of this month.