§ Captain R. GUINNESSasked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to set up conferences as recommended in the Report of the Whitley Committee to deal with the question of salaries and hours of Civil servants?
§ Mr. BALDWINI beg to refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave on Thursday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Tottenham North, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Prime Minister whether a request has been made to him on behalf of Civil servants to receive a deputation in support of the setting up of a joint conference to deal with the contemplated scheme for revision of salaries and hours of work of the Civil Service pending the setting up of Whitley councils to deal with such matters; and whether he will give as early an opportunity as is possible for the deputation to wait upon him and in the meantime to prevent any decision being arrived at by the Treasury which may prejudice the question sought to be raised by the deputation?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As I explained on Thursday, in answer to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Tottenham, a Subcommittee is about to Report on the application of the recommendations of the Whitley Report to the administrative Department of the Civil Service, and pending the consideration of this Report I think it would be premature to receive a deputation. I will, however, bear the request in mind.