§ Mr. BARNARDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that the majority of pensions officers are second-class officers of Customs and Excise, rising to a maximum salary of £160, and often remaining at that maximum for five or six years waiting for promotion, and having regard to the importance of their work in safeguarding the Treasury against undue expenditure under 1982W the Old Age Pensions Act, he will consider the possibility of improving their salaries by raising the maximum of their class or by removing the artificial block in promotion from which they at present suffer; and, considering that the future promotion of these officers is likely to be adversely affected by the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments, whether their position will be considered by the Committee which has been formed to consider certain questions arising out of that amalgamation?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for the Hoxton Division of Shoreditch on 28th April.