§ Sir JOHN BETHELLasked the Chancellor the Exchequer whether he is aware that the interpretation by the Board of Customs of the Amalgamation Committee's Report as applying to surveyors who held their positions prior to the date of the Report is contrary to precedents (new regulations governing new entrants), and that the taking away from these surveyors (all old servants who have, through this amalgamation, lost considerable prospects of advancement but were conditionally compensated in certain instances by a grant of £50) of all payment for attendance between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; the requirement of four overtime visits per month after 8 p.m. to be made without remuneration, and before a charge for overtime can be made; the reduction from 12s. or 16s. to 7s. 6d., paid for each visit (after four have been made); the withdrawal of payment for attendance on 2820W Sundays and holidays; the cancellation, except partially to present holders, of eight allowances, each of £30, hitherto paid for tea inspection; and the extension of the hours during which their daily attendance must be made, constitute a series of grievances; and whether, if no further compensation may be given, he is able to offer these surveyors special terms of retirement from a service the conditions to which have in their opinion altered so much to their detriment?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI cannot accept the statements in the question as a fair or complete summary of the amalgamation changes in regard to surveyors, formerly Customs surveyors, to whom I assume my hon. Friend refers, nor can I agree with the suggestion that there has been any misinterpretation of the Amalgamation Committee's Report. I see no reason for offering special terms of retirement to these officials, and I am not aware that any of them have applied to be retired before their natural time.
§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will allow the members of the Customs and Excise Department who suffer from diminished prospects owing to the amalgamation of these services to retire on abolition terms?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do not consider that the existing state of the amalgamated Customs and Excise service affords grounds for the grant of special terms of retirement.