§ Mrs. PHILIPSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the writing assistants and typist employed by his Department owing to the number of senior and suitable members of these grades for whom no avenue of promotion has been provided; and whether he will give sympathetic consideration to the filling of further clerical officer vacancies by promotion from such staff?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAvenues of promotion both for writing assistants and typists exist in the Ministry of Labour, and steps are being taken at the present time to make a number of promotions of officers in the grades in question.
§ Mr. W. BAKERasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will give instructions to the effect that every effort should be made to come to a settlement on outstanding points of detail in connection with a recent agreement in principle reached between his Department and the appropriate association on the starting-pay of ex-temporary writing assistants 1984W in district managers' offices, so that the girls concerned, whose claims, now admitted, have been outstanding since March, 1924, should be able to receive any arreas due before Christmas;
(2) whether he is aware that benefits due under the awards of the industrial court, dated 31st July, 1925; 24th July, 1925; and the 29th September, 1925, respectively, have not yet been paid out in his Department to those writing assistants, shorthand typists, and women clerical officers affected by the awards; that hardship exists amongst certain of his staff as a result, and that discontent exists amongst those concerned, owing to the fact that other Departments found it possible to pay out a few months ago; and whether, in the circumstances, he will give instruction for payment to be expedited in order that the girls may receive arrears before Christmas?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI understand that the benefits due to shorthand typists and women clerical officers under the industrial court awards have been, or are about to be, paid except in a few cases involving points of doubt. In the case of the writing assistants a difficulty of interpretation has arisen which is still under discussion with the staff association concerned, and this has delayed the issue of instructions. I am now arranging for the arrears due to be calculated and chocked as soon as possible, so far as the position is clear, but it will not, I fear, be practicable to make the payments before Christmas.