§ Sir N. Grattan-Doyleasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Imperial War Graves Commission have considered the request from the staff at the British war cemeteries in Northern France asking for an increase of wages to meet the recent rise in France in the cost of living; and what reply has been given to such request?
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government have considered the demand for increased wages and better working conditions from he gardeners of British war cemeteries; and whether he can state the present rates of pay and working conditions?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe Imperial War Graves Commission have recently considered the request referred to in the first part of the question, and have agreed to make an additional allowance in francs, 1983W with effect from 1st April last, to the staff of British War cemeteries to meet present living conditions.
As regards the present rates of pay and working conditions, the following is the information asked for:
A gardener-caretaker in France receives under his agreement £3 per week, from which he contributes 3s. per week to a Superannuation Scheme, the Commission contributing a like amount. The balance of £2 17s. is paid in francs, and to this is added, under present conditions, a special allowance bringing the francs received to 413 francs (French) per week. A gardener-caretaker in Belgium is paid under similar arrangements 526 francs (Belgian) per week.
Foremen gardeners receive under their contracts wages up to £200 per annum with a similar increased allowance in francs.
Thirty days leave with pay is granted in each year, with free leave tickets to the employees' homes in this country. Working conditions are otherwise similar to those obtaining in comparable service in this country.