HC Deb 20 July 1936 vol 315 cc45-8W
Mr. KELLY

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks employed in the factory inspectors' offices; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

Sir J. SIMON

Terms of reference have been received from the Civil Service Clerical Association, and are under consideration.

Mr. JAGGER

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the number of successful candidates from the open competitions to the clerical classes of the Civil Service actually appointed each year is determined by the needs of the various Departments; whether there is some minimum standard required at the examinations or whether the appointments are determined as a result of both considerations; and, if so, to what extent in respect of each factor?

Mr. W. S. MORRISON

The decision regarding the number of appointments to be made from open competitions for the clerical classes is made by the Treasury in consultation with the Civil Service Commissioners. It is determined primarily by the existing and prospective requirements of the various Departments after account has been taken of appointments to be made from contemporary competitions limited to members of the minor and manipulative grades and by the promotion of individuals specially recommended by their Departments. The number of appointments is further subject to the overriding condition, which is common to all competitions, that no candidate may be appointed whose performance in the examination, in the opinion of the Civil Service Commissioners, failed to reach a satisfactory standard.

Mr. KELLY

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the point in the list of successful candidates at examinations for the clerical class of the Civil Service at which the Civil Service Commissioners cease to allot successful candidates to vacancies in the general clerical class, and allot them thereafter to departmental class vacancies?

Mr. W. S. MORRISON

Subject to the requirements of Departments allotment is made in accordance with the expressed preferences of candidates, in their order of merit. Allotment to the general clerical class does not therefore precede allotment to departmental clerical classes in the manner assumed.

Mr. KELLY

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of Departmental clerks employed in his Department; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

Captain CROOKSHANK

The terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association have been received by the Board of Trade and are under consideration.

Mr. KELLY

asked the Secretary of State for War the average age on promotion to second-grade clerkships, departmental, of third-grade clerks in the War Office promoted during the last five years?

Mr. COOPER

The average age is 48.

Mr. KELLY

asked the Secretary of State for War how many clerks in the bottom tier of the Departmental class structure in the War Office are stationary at the maximum £252 for men; and how many have been stationary for the following periods: one to two years, three to four years, five to seven years, eight to nine years, and 10 years or more?

Mr. COOPER

The information asked for is not immediately available, but it is being obtained and will be communicated to the hon. Member in due course.

Mr. KELLY

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III departmental clerks employed in that section of his Department which is organised on the departmental class basis; and the number of "S" class clerks, clerk-typists and clerk-shorthand-typists, writing assistants, temporary clerks, and other sub-clerical agents employed in the same area?

Mr. COOPER

The information is as follows:—

Departmental Clerks
Grade I 43
Grade II 149
Grade III 908
War Department Clerks (Special) 1,669
Clerk-Typist and Clerk-Shorthand-Typist Nil.
Writing Assistants 12
Women Clerks (Established) 71
Temporary Clerks (male and female) 815

Mr. KELLY

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks employed in his Department; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

Mr. COOPER

The terms of reference have been received from the Civil Service Clerical Association and are now under consideration. The hon. Member can rest assured that the matter will be dealt with with all reasonable despatch.

Mr. KELLY

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the terms of reference sent from the Civil Service Clerical Association in regard to the pay of departmental clerks employed in the Ordnance Survey office; and whether he will see that there is no delay in the remission of these terms of reference to the Minister of Labour for adjudication by the industrial court?

Mr. ELLIOT

Proposed terms of reference have been received from the Civil Service Clerical Association and are under consideration.