§ Mr. BRIANTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the Army Clothing Department, Pimlico, there are 25 established clerks, with an average of 29½ years' satisfactory service to their credit, whose maximum basic rate is less than the rate of pay granted by the Southborough Committee as a commencing salary to the new entrants to the Service via the Lytton or Southborough examinations; and what steps he proposes to take to bring these men at Pimlico within the purview of the recommendations contained in the Report, dated February, 1920, of the reorganisation sub-committee of the National Whitley Council?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe whole of the clerical staff of the Royal Army Clothing Department is being reorganised in accordance with the scheme of gradings and pay which is being applied to all War Department out-station offices, and which I have explained in answer to questions by the hon. Member for Limehouse on the 8th December. There are 25 established clerks in the Royal Army Clothing Department (store and factory) who are in the lowest clerical grade. Most of their past service has been rendered in an un-established capacity. When the reorganisation of the Royal Army Clothing Department clerical staff is completed, effect will be given to the new scales of pay from 1st April, 1924. Special terms of assimilation for the existing established staff have already been laid down. The position of existing established staff will be further considered if necessary in the event of any successful candidates from the recent Southborough examination being appointed to posts in the Royal Army Clothing Department at higher initial rates.