§ Major GASTRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if an application was received in May, 1914, from certain employés at the India store depot, asking that they might receive the same increase of 1s. a week as had been given in the case of other Government Departments in the London district as from 5th January last; if so, will he say why no 1585W reply has been made to such petition beyond a formal acknowledgment; whether he is aware that the employés in question have received an increase of only 1s. 6d. a week since 1894, while in the case of other Government Departments in London wages have been increased by 6s. a week in the same period; and, seeing that the work done by men receiving this wage of 25s. 6d. a week includes the packing for export of glass, china, scientific instruments, and other valuable articles, whether it is proposed to grant a further increase to bring these employés into line as regards improved conditions of labour with other Government Departments?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSAn application was received in May for a further increase in the minimum wage in addition to the increase of 1s. 6d. a week granted in 1912. Inquiry was necessary as to the remuneration granted for similar work in other Government Departments, and this is still in progress, but it appears that the extra 1s. granted last January by other Government Departments has not in fact raised wages to the minimum level which since 1912 has been paid by the India Office.