§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the chairman of the Board 2081W of Customs and Excise stated in his evidence before the Committee on the Amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments that, with regard to the second and third class surveyors, these men would be absorbed in the new surveyor class, retaining their present scale and overtime privileges; whether the overtime privileges have been altered seriously to the detriment of these officials by the issue of General Order 54, of 1912; and whether any circumstances have arisen which have led to a departure from the course advised by the chairman of the Board?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe suggestion in the evidence referred to was made on the assumption that scales of salary and requirements as to attendance would remain unaltered, but, as I informed the hon. Member for Eastbourne on the 3rd ultimo, the scales of salary of these surveyors have been improved, and the requirements as to their attendance have been considerably relaxed. The alteration of overtime privileges must be looked at not by itself but in connection with all the other changes accompanying amalgamation.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in 1882, when a number of Customs' clerks were called upon owing to reorganisation to take up duties in the outdoor department and to give increased attendance, compensation allowances for the increased attendance were granted, and, if so, what was the amount per man; whether in 1898, when certain emoluments for work done by Customs' officials for other departments were abolished, compensation was granted to the collectors, surveyors, and other officials concerned, and what was the highest, lowest, and average amount of compensation granted; and whether, in view of the loss of emoluments inflicted on the surveyors under General Order 54, 1912, he will cause adequate compensation to be granted to these officials on the lines followed in 1882 and 1898?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGECustoms' clerks transferred to the outdoor department in 1882 were given increases of salary of £10, £12 10s., £20, and in a few cases £30, according to rank, in consideration of the disadvantages involved in the change. In 1898, when special emoluments for certain duties performed by Customs' officials for other departments were abolished, the officials performing such duties were2082W granted compensation allowances varying from £3 to £150 per annum—the average being £20 per annum. In reply to the last part of the question as to the emoluments of certain surveyors for extra attendance, I must point out that the change in the system of remuneration has been accompanied by a considerable relaxation of the requirements as to attendance, and as I informed the hon. Member for Eastbourne on the 3rd ultimo, the scales of salary of these officials have been improved.