§ Mr. LYELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the Customs and Excise Amalgamation Committee recommended for senior first and second class officers of Excise retrospective application of the increment in the new scale of salary to the 1st April, 1909, (par. 169), he will explain why, notwithstanding this recommendation, the Board of Customs and Excise have delayed the application of the increment to the 1st April, 1910?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe new scale of salary has been ante-dated to 1st April, 1909, in accordance with the recommendation of the Amalgamation Committee, and on that date the new scale increments begin to accrue for senior and junior officers alike. In the opinion of the Treasury the Board have fully carried out the recommendation of the Committee in the matter referred to.
§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no reference is made in the General Order, dated 29th November, 1911, issued by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise in relation to the new 2106W scale of salary for the officer grade to the recommendation of the Hobhouse Committee, in paragraph 136 of their Report, of an allowance of £20 per annum to certain officers one year after reaching the maximum salary of the grade as compensation for the loss of prospects due to the amalgamation of the departments; whether he will state why no present compensation is offered to those first-class officers of Excise who, under the conditions prevailing prior to the amalgamation, would now have been eligible to sit for the examination for promotion to the grade of supervisor; whether he will also state the estimated average annual loss to such officers during the next seven years, and to what extent the claims of these officials would be met by the application in accordance with the terms of paragraph 41 of the Hobhouse Report of the service scale of salary tentatively suggested by the Board of Customs and Excise as per paragraph 92 of the Report; and whether the Treasury will consider the necessity of following out the suggestions of the Board of Customs and Excise in paragraphs 41 and 92 of the Hobhouse Report, as a means of relieving the existing situation which may otherwise continue for several years?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe allowance of £20 is one of the "special reservations" expressly mentioned in paragraph 20 of the General Order. The other points in the question, including the suggestions made by the Board of Customs and Excise, were considered by the Committee, who were cognizant of all the facts, and no object would be served by reviewing the alternatives suggested in the question.