§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, notwithstanding the circular which was issued to local authorities soon after the outbreak of war urging them to release their officers for service with she Colours and to make concessions to them in augmentation of military pay and allowances, his auditors have surcharged the members of certain authorities in respect of payments slightly in excess of the Civil Service scale to officers so released; whether he proposes to take any action to relieve members of local authorities from the threatened surcharge; and whether he proposes to allow local authorities to exercise a reasonable discretion in redeeming the promises they have made to members of their official staffs?
1920W
§ Mr. LONGA surcharge has been made in a case in which a local authority had continued to pay full salaries or wages to employés serving with the Colours, and this is the only case of the kind in which, so far as I am aware, a surcharge has been made. I hope shortly to introduce a Bill to regularise payments of reasonable allowances of the kind referred to.