§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received a statement, dated 10th June last, on the question of allowances for tea inspection to certain Surveyors of Customs; and whether he is in a position now to give a definite answer on the matter?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have seen the statement referred to, but I fear I can see no reason to alter the existing arrangement.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the compulsory age of retirement for officers of all grades in the Customs and Excise service; and what is the total number of members of the controlling grade who will have attained the age of sixty-two years on 1st September of this year, and the probable date of their retirement?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe general age for retirement is sixty-one in the officer and surveyor grades, and sixty-two in the controlling grade. There will be one member of the latter grade at the age of sixty-two on 1st September next.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANalso asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what is the total amount paid to the Board of Customs and Excise during the twenty- 2667W eight weeks ending 14th June, 1913, under the new overtime regulations; and the total amount paid as overtime and allowances, respectively, by the Board of Customs and Excise to officers during the same period?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am afraid I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question put by him on the 30th of April last.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANnext asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an examination for surveyorships of Customs and Excise has been announced to take place about the end of the present year; and whether he will cause immediate notification to be given to all officers who are to be called up for that examination, in view of the inconvenience and uncertainty occasioned by the undue delay in giving such notification?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In answer to the second part, the matter is under consideration by the Board of Customs and Excise.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether officers of Customs and Excise are now required to do 48 hours per week of six days, between 10 p.m. on Sunday and 2 a.m. on the following Sunday; and whether he will give instruction that such exploitation of the officers shall cease, in view of the fact that under the Hobhouse Report all attendances on Sundays were to be paid for at overtime rates?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe regulations allow overtime pay for attendance given in excess of forty-eight hours in the six week-days and for all attendance on Sundays. In addition, night pay at half rate is allowed for any attendance between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., and a compensation day off is given for attendance on a Sunday. It is provided, however, that where an officer's spell of attendance ends before 2 a.m. on Sunday or begins after 10 p.m. on Sunday the short period overlapping into Sunday shall be treated as week-day attendance. The officers are generously treated by these regulations and I cannot admit the suggestion in the second part of the question.