§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether money for overtime work has been paid to the respective staffs of the Central Office and London and south-eastern Divisional Office in connection with unemployment insurance; and, if so, up to what date; and why the clerks at several Labour Exchanges are still awaiting their money for overtime worked as far back as the month of February last?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe minor clerical staff of the Central Office for Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance consists almost entirely of second division and assistant clerks, who are paid in accordance with Treasury Regulations for any overtime worked. The staff of the Divisional Offices and Labour Exchanges are specially recruited, and the conditions of their appointment do not provide for the payment of overtime. With the special sanction, however, of the Treasury gratuities have been paid to them in respect of overtime worked at seasons of exceptional pressure. Such payments have been made in the present year at the Divisional Offices in respect of January and February, and at the Labour Exchanges in respect of January. The question of payment at the Exchanges for February is still under consideration. It is also intended to make certain payments to the staff in respect of overtime caused by the annual exchange of unemployment books in the present month.