HC Deb 06 December 1960 vol 631 c1040
9. Mr. Ginsburg

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the investigation of Civil Service Scientific Salary Scales by the Pay Research Unit was initiated; and when he expects the report to be received.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The Pay Research Unit began work on the survey of the scientific classes at the beginning of this year; the report should be available by the end of the year or early in 1961.

Mr. Ginsburg

I welcome this news, but would the Chancellor impress upon the Treasury the need for urgency? There is an acute shortage of scientists in the Civil Service. The Civil Service Commission is having great difficulty in recruitment. In the case of the assistant scientist grade an interim award was made in 1957, conditional upon an investigation by the Pay Research Unit, so that there has been a delay of four years.

Mr. Lloyd

I certainly agree that we want this report as soon as possible. It has been a fairly complicated task but, as I indicated, we hope to get the answer before long.