§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the new salary classification scale, or even the additional cost-of-living bonus, agreed to in April, 1920, has not been extended to the female clerical staff on Irish railways; whether the new scale has been extended long since to the male and female staffs on the railways in Great Britain and to the male staff in Ireland; and whether he will take immediate steps to have the new scale 1851W and the cost-of-living bonus extended to the Irish female railway clerks?
§ Mr. A. NEALMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport came to the conclusion in January last (after consulting the Irish general managers) that, in the light of all the information then available, he would not be justified in conceding the claim made for the extension to Ireland of the revised rates of pay applicable to the female clerical staff on British railways. Some further information has now been supplied in support of the claim, and this is being investigated.