HC Deb 28 February 1940 vol 357 cc2093-4W
Sir R. Gower

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the difficulties created by evacuation, he will waive the rule that temporary civil servants will not receive sick pay until they have been some months in the service; and whether he is aware of the large amount of sickness among civil servants at places like Blackpool?

Captain Crookshank

It has recently been agreed with the staff side of the National Whitley Council, and instructions will shortly be issued, that, where billeted officers receive less than full pay or its equivalent during sick leave, any billeting charge which the officer may normally pay should be waived. I regret that I see no grounds in the case of evacuated staff for modifying the agreed arrangements with regard to the qualifying period of service which has to be rendered by temporary employés in order to become eligible for paid sick leave. There is no evidence that absence due to sickness at Blackpool and other reception towns is greater than in London.