§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he was aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the third 1888W and fourth class clerks in the employ of the Port of London Authority and formerly employed by the London and India Dock Company in consequence of the Authority not carrying out the agreement contained in the Act of Parliament constituting the Port of London Authority, namely, that the position of employés should not be worsened because of the transfer of their services from the company's service to that of the Authority; and, whether, with a view to settling their grievances, he would receive a small deputation from the men concerned?
Mr. BUXTONI am informed by the Port of London Authority that the position of the clerks referred to by the hon. Member has not been worsened, but that owing to a recent classification of the staff the scales of pay have on the whole been improved. The Port Authority also inform me that in the early autumn there will be a selection made to fill a large number of vacancies in the higher grades, and that this will benefit a number of the clerks referred to. In the circumstances it would I think at least be premature to consider the question of a deputation.