§ Mr. BARNESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the agreement between staff associations and the Treasury in regard to the employment of writing assistants in the Civil Service provided that where arrangements could be made so as to secure that clerical officers should not be employed on mechanical work for more than 12 months writing assistants need not be employed, he will say why in the Tea Accounts Branch of the Customs, where this condition is fulfilled, it has been decided, despite the disagreement of the staffs affected, to introduce writing assistants; and whether the Treasury will see to it that the terms of the agreement made by the staffs are honourably carried out?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am informed that it is not practicable to arrange the work in the Tea Accounts Branch of the Customs so as to secure that clerical officers should not be employed on mechanical work for more than 12 months, and that accordingly the condition referred to by the hon. Member is not fulfilled.