§ 52. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hours of excess duty allowance are claimed monthly by officers of his Department; the annual cost; if he is aware that the more senior members of his Department are prompting those more junior to submit the maximum possible claims for such allowances; and what steps are taken to ensure that each claim is fully justified.
Mr. AmoryI assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to overtime worked beyond the regular hours. The section concerned must seek authority for this in advance and their applications, as well as the subsequent records of attendance, are carefully scrutinised. For the month of October a total of 33,803 hours of such overtime were worked at an approximate cost of £8,450.
I am not aware of any practice among the more senior officers such as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests. I shall be glad to look into any individual case which he may have in mind if he will let me have particulars.