§ Mr. Rookerasked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement about the continuing delay in resolving the problems of the staff in the Serjeant at Arms Department who, on obtaining promotion, suffer a reduction in salary.
§ Mr. Arthur BottomleyNo employee in any Department of the House suffers an actual reduction in basic salary on promotion. As a result, however, of the linkage to certain civil service grades, and relative movements in the pay of these grades, anomalies in pay scales have arisen. Since January 1980, temporary ad hoc payments have been made to staff affected by these anomalies, and these are to be increased by 7½ per cent., with effect from 1 April 1981. This will go some way towards rectifying the anomalies. The Commission has already indicated that it is prepared to consider on their merits anomalies in the existing structure, with the assistance of the newly-appointed staff inspector.