§ Major NALLasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the action of the Canal Control Committee in refusing to allow the adoption of a grading scheme for clerks similar to that adopted for railway clerks; whether it is a fact that clerks on the Shropshire Union Canal are dealt with as railway clerks; whether the Canal Control Committee have also stopped the yearly salary increments of canal clerks whilst railway clerks doing exactly similar work have been graded and drawn back pay since 1st August last; and what steps he proposes to take to meet the reasonable demand of canal clerks for fair treatment?
§ Mr NEALIt is not thought that the scheme adopted by the railway companies, many of whom employ Very large numbers of clerks, is suitable for application to the clerical staff of Canal Undertakings where the number employed is comparatively small. The Shropshire Union Canal is in effect the property of a railway company, and the clerks employed are treated accordingly. It is not the case that the Canal Control Committee has stopped any increments to which clerks would have been entitled under arrangements in force previous to the control. The whole question of the future of canals, including the position of the clerical staff, is receiving careful consideration.