§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will consider the advisability of increasing the wages of civilian clerks on War Office work in Government Departments in Ireland?
§ Mr. FORSTER:Instructions were issued yesterday authorising a temporary increase, with effect from the 1st January last.
§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the official figures percentage of the increased cost of living since the outbreak of war; if he will also state by what percentage the wages of Government labourers in Ireland have been increased; and if he will name the Departments that have granted an equal increase in wages with increase of living?
§ Mr. DUKE:The hon. Member will find such information as is available of the estimated average increase in the cost of living in the Board of Trade "Labour Gazettes." The Conciliation and Arbitration Board has recently awarded an increased war bonus to Government Employés, which has been extended to all similar classes throughout Great Britain. The percentage on the ordinary remuneration represented by the war bonus now payable (which, in the case of all adult male Employès on the permanent staff whose wages do not exceed 30s. a week, is 9s. a week) will depend on the amount of the ordinary remuneration in each case, 629W and I cannot undertake to furnish the hon. Member with the hypothetical figures asked for in the second part of his question.