§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury what are the increases of pay recently granted to civil clerks or writers in the Army Ordnance Department in Ireland; have those increases been accompanied by a stoppage of the advantages of free medical attendance, medicines, etc., heretofore afforded to those employés; is he aware that one such employé whose weekly pay was 33s. a week got, under the increased scale, 34s. 6d. a week, or £3 18s. per annum, while being deprived of the free medical attendance, etc., for himself, his wife, and family while in Ireland, where there are no medical benefits under the National Insurance Act, leaving him worse off under the new scale than under the old, having to pay more than the increase for medical attendance; and whether he will consider the desirability of giving these employés a real and not an illusory increase of pay?
§ Mr. HAROLD BAKERThe minimum has been raised from 22s. to 23s., the rate of increment from 2s. and then 3s. triennially to 1s. 6d. annually; the maximum from 35s. to 36s. These increases have been accompanied by the stoppage of free medical attendance, medicines, etc. The employé will be eligible for a further rise to 36s. from 1st January next. The absence of medical benefit in Ireland is attended by a reduced rate of contribution under the Insurance Act, and the future arrangements in that country are, as the hon. Member knows, under consideration. I cannot accept the suggestion that the increase given to this class of employé is illusory.