§ Mr. WATTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a new and improved 2852W scale of salaries has been granted to officers of Excise; if so, whether the scale is retrospective; and whether the new scale of salary for the supervising grade will also be made retrospective; and, if so, from what date?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first and second parts of this question is in the affirmative. The answer to the remaining parts is that the new scale of salary for the supervising grade will be applied from 16th August last to the classes affected, and in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee.
§ Mr. WATTasked whether the recommendation of the Hobhouse Committee on the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments was that the common supervising grade will be required to undertake the full duties of that grade; and whether this recommendation has been adopted by his Department; if so, will these supervisors be placed on a new scale of salary applicable to the common grade, and will officers appointed in future to that grade receive a minimum salary of £320.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Committee's recommendations in this matter will be found in paragraphs 161 and 162 and 186 to 189 of their Report, to which I beg to refer my hon. Friend. These recommendations have been approved by the Treasury.
§ Mr. ALDENasked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer expects to be able to receive the deputation of Customs port clerks during the coming Recess?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI will try to arrange to receive a deputation from Customs officials affected by the Amalgamation Scheme about the end of January or beginning of February.
§ Mr. WATTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Hobhouse Committee on the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments have recommended that in the amalgamated departments there should be one common supervising grade and that the scale of salary for such grade should be £320 minimum rising by £15 per annum to a maximum of £450, with an efficiency bar at £400; whether the Treasury has accepted that recommendation; if not, what scale of salary for the common supervising grade is contemplated by the Treasury; whether 2853W the common supervising grade referred to is to be constituted from supervisors of Excise, certain surveyors of Customs, and certain of the clerical establishemnt of both Customs and Excise services; and whether certain supervisors of Excise are now on a scale of salary of £280 minimum rising by £10 per annum to £320 maximum; and, if so, what is the number of such supervisors?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe recommendations of the Committee in this matter, which are fully set out in paragraphs 186 and 187 of their Report, are substantially as stated in the question, and have been approved by the Treasury. The number of Supervisors of Excise on the old scale of £280 by £10 to £320 is 229.