§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the messengers employed in the Hydrographic Department did not receive the 3s. advance granted in 1915 to Admiralty messengers; and whether he will 925W give instructions for the payment of this advance to these men as from the date it was paid to the other messengers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend's question apparently relates to the senior messengers in the Hydrographic Department, who were formerly on scales of pay with maxima of 36s., 30s., and 25s. a week, and minima of 30s., 25s., and 21s. per week respectively. These maxima have now been increased to 39s., 33s., and 27s. 6d. a week, and the minima by 3s. a week throughout, with effect from the 29th September last inclusive, and any messenger who had been in receipt of his old maximum for more than a year on the date in question received an increase of 1s. per week therefrom. It should be added, however, that a minimum rate of 24s. a week for the messenger class became operative on the 1st April, 1915, and this was granted to such messengers in the Hydrographic Department who were then receiving less than that rate. The same procedure was observed in the case of messengers in other Departments on the raising of the maximum of 24s. a week to 27s. 6d. The question as to whether this concession can be further antedated is under consideration.