§ Mr. LORT-WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received from the Bermondsey employment committee a communication recommending that cleaners in employment ex- 1925W changes should be entitled to annual leave and to pay during sickness on the same basis as that which obtains for the temporary clerical staff, and expressing the opinion that the weekly remuneration of 30s. plus 23s. War bonus and 12s. 6d. plus 9s. 6d. War bonus paid to men and women cleaners, respectively, is inadequate having regard to the present cost of living; and whether he can see his way to give effect to these recommendations?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. The Bermondsey Local Employment Committee have already been informed that it has been decided, in connection with the general revision of the conditions of service of cleaners in Employment Exchanges, to increase the pay to 55s. 2d. for men and 33s. 7d. for women. Further, the cleaners will not be required, as hitherto, to provide their own cleaning materials. The question of annual and sick leave affects cleaners employed in the Government service generally, and is, therefore, not a matter in which any one Department can legislate by and for itself.