§ Mr. SITCHasked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the amount of leave granted to gate porters such as are employed at Somerset House, etc., is much less than that granted to the men messenger staff; whether he can indicate the reasons for this differentiation; whether he will consider this matter with a view to gate porters being granted one day's leave per month as is given to the whole of the pensioner messengers staff employed by the Government; whether he is also aware that the pay of gate porters is less than that received by messengers; and whether he will have this matter looked into with a view to the scale of pay being brought into line with that received by the messenger staff?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am aware that the leave and pay of gatekeepers are less than those granted to messengers. Their duties are not substantially the same, and for that reason they are not graded with messengers for purposes of leave and pay.