§ Mr. FALCONERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Hobhouse Commission Report, whether it is proposed to offer any compensation to the senior lower section, Customs port clerks, second class, for loss of promotion to the upper section, which involves in some cases a loss of £50 a year in salary; and, considering that some of the senior upper section second class clerks, who would proceed at present in the ordinary course without examination to the first class, are well past middle age, whether compensation will be offered to those of them who will lose this promotion through the new condition of examination?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIn reply to the first part of this question I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Dundee on the 6th instant. In reply to the second part, I beg to refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Deptford on the 8th instant, from which it will be seen that the prospect of rising to £400 (the maximum of the old first class) has been reserved to every efficient port clerk.