EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the civilian clerks of the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery Record Office, Woolwich Dockyard, are receiving a wage of 26s. per week and work three hours' overtime per day at 7½d. per hour; if it is proposed to give them an advance to place them on an equality with their fellow clerks who have recently been enlisted at the following rate of pay: married men 48s. 5d. per week, single men 42s. per week, with clothing and washing and other allowances; if all the clerks, civilian and military, are engaged on similar work; if the clerks in this office have benefited by the grants made by Parliament to Government clerks in September last; and, if not, will he say why they have not done so?
§ Mr. FORSTERIncluding cash allowances the rates of pay are as stated. The civilian clerks are temporary clerks engaged since mobilisation. I do not know what are the grants made by Parliament to Government clerks to which my hon. Friend refers, but the question to what extent advances given to labour should be extended to clerical staffs is now under consideration by the Government.