§ 62. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take into account when discussing the wage claim which has been submitted by the Civil Service Union, the fact that women office cleaners employed by Government Departments in the provinces receive a maximum of only 1s. 5⅞d. per hour; and if he will give an undertaking to improve substantially this inadequate rate of pay.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe hourly rate for Women Cleaners in Class II and Class III Post Offices (that is, in the smaller provincial towns) was agreed in November, 1947, at 1s. 6d. on entry and 1s. 6½d. after two years. This rate was, with the agreement of the staff representatives, applied in March, 1948, to Women Cleaners in all non-industrial Government offices in those towns. The rates are at present under discussion and the union is at liberty, in default of agreement, to submit the issue to arbitration.