§ Mr. CROOKSasked the President of the Board of Education, if he is aware that for some time it has been the practice in the case of clerks serving in his Department, when employed on overtime, to exact from them three hours' extra weekly attendance in lieu of the Saturday half-holiday; and whether, seeing that this comparatively recent practice is confined to his Department as compared with other public offices, including the Local Government Board, housed in the same building, he can see his way to revoke this exaction, which in effect reduces the overtime remuneration below its stipulated rate?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI can only speak for my own Department. The Order in Council requires all permanent officers of the Civil Service to attend not less than seven hours per day, but allows a half-holiday on alternate Saturdays, provided that the progress of public business is not prejudiced thereby. Under Treasury Regulations payment may be made to the subordinate ranks for attendance in excess of the usual official hours, but in agreeing to an increase in the clerical staff of the Board in 1906 the Treasury made the con- 729W dition that no overtime should be paid for until a forty-two hours' week should have been worked. A clerk employed on overtime during the week who takes the Saturday half-holiday can only, therefore, be paid for overtime which is in excess of the required forty-two hours ordinary attendance. I have no power to alter this Treasury requirement.