§ Major NALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the disparity in the rates of pay for Government clerks which exists between permanent and temporary staffs; whether the provincial staffs of the Ministry of Pensions and local war pensions committees are paid on the temporary scale; and whether he can adopt the policy of equal pay for equal work without distinction between permanent and temporary staffs?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe rates of pay of temporary clerks in Government service are at present in process of revision. The revised rates, which will shortly be promulgated, will be generally applicable to the provincial staffs of the Ministry of Pensions and of local war pensions committees, and take full account of the scales of remuneration now in force and proposed to be fixed for the permanent clerical classes.
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§ Mr. TOOTILLasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst the temporary clerks employed by the Ministry at Ashton-under-Lyne owing to the great difference of pay received by the permanent staff and the temporary clerks; whether he is aware that two-thirds of the temporary staff are receiving the lowest rate, although doing the same work as the higher grades; and whether he will have inquiries made into these men's grievances?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am not aware that there is dissatisfaction among the temporary clerks at the Ashton-under-Lyne Employment Exchange. The rates of pay applicable to the permanent clerks in the employment exchanges are those awarded by the Civil Service Arbitration Board and approved by His Majesty's Treasury. The rates of pay applicable to temporary clerks were arrived at by agreement with the staff associations concerned. A claim for the revision of these rates has been received and is under consideration. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's question, I am having inquiries made into the position at Ashton-under-Lyne Employment Exchange.