HC Deb 02 April 1919 vol 114 cc1212-3W
Mr. N. M'LEAN

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether unestablished and temporary messengers and all other grades upon similar scales of pay and conditions are Civil servants; if so, why they are not put upon the same scale of sick leave as the other grades of unestablished Government employés who are allowed eight weeks' sick leave every year on full pay less 10s. in the case of men and 7s. in that of women; and, if not, will he extend to the unestablished and temporary messenger class these sick-leave benefits?

Mr. BALDWIN

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that eight weeks' sick pay (less certain deduction) is allowed generally to unestablished employés. Such sick pay is granted only to a limited number of classes, consisting mainly of professional and clerical staff, while the other classes receive the benefits of the National Insurance Acts. These arrangements were adopted by the Government after a detailed review of the sick leave rules in the public service by a Special Committee in 1913, and I see no ground for altering them.