Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how and where the figures were obtained on which the differentiation in the salaries of civil servants in London, Edinburgh, and the provinces was calculated?
Mr. GRAHAMAs I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on the 19th February, the differentiation was the result of agreement on the appropriate Whitley body. It was the subject of prolonged consideration by that body, and had regard to all the relevant circumstances and not only to published figures in regard to the cost of living. So far as the Committee's decision was related to cost of living figures, I understand that the figures in question were obtained as a result of a Board of Trade inquiry in 1912.