asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that many supervisory women officers in his Department receive less than those supervised, and that general dissatisfaction exists among the higher grades in consequence of this and other anomalies in their position; and whether he will consider referring to the industrial court the present differences of opinion as to the appropriate rates for the Departmental classes of divisional and assistant divisional superintendent, group supervisors, and checkers?

The rates of pay of temporary divisional superintendents, assistant divisional superintendents and group supervisors are in all cases higher than those of the grades whom they supervise; there are, however, a few instances where a temporary clerk is temporarily drawing less pay than a clerk in the grade below. This is due to the fact that the minimum pay of the higher grade is below the maximum pay of the lower; but the scales of pay, which were agreed with the staff associations concerned, are common to the temporary clerical staff of all Government Departments, and there are no grounds on which a special concession could be made to the staff affected in this Ministry. I have received no recent representations as to the alleged inadequacy of the pay or the Departmental classes referred to, and in any case, I do not consider that the matter is one for reference to the Industrial Court.

asked the Prime Minister whether he IB aware that before the Dissolution of the last Parliament petitions with several thousand signatures, including numbers from taxpayers not directly concerned, were sent to the Treasury appealing for an Industrial Court hearing of the case for and against further reductions in the rates of pay of temporary women civil servants; and whether he will consider allowing such a hearing to take place now, in view of the fact that it can be proved that the majority of women who would receive the proposed December reductions in salary already have insufficient food and clothing for full efficiency to be maintained, having to contribute to the support of others on inadequate wages?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the question, I am aware that a petition containing between two and three thousand signatures was submitted before the Dissolution of the last Parliament. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question put yesterday by the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a Select Committee to report on the Government Departments which could be abolished or merged, with a view to still further economy?

The question to which my hon. Friend refers is already engaging the attention of the Government, and every effort is being made, and will continue to be made, to secure further economy in this direction.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is considering the question of abolishing the Ministry of Transport?

Oh, yes. It has been arranged that it shall be abolished at a definite time, and we are considering whether it can be hastened.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a communication from representatives of the temporary staff employed in His Majesty's Departments of State requesting an interview to discuss the proposals to reduce the rates of pay; and will he receive the deputation before the revised rates become operative?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for the Bedwelty Division of Monmouth (Mr. Edwards), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is any rule in the Government service which permits persons retired on pension for service in one Department from taking whole-time posts in other civil Departments; and whether there are in the Ministries of Pensions and Labour cases in which persons with service pensions up to £l,000 a year are receiving salaries of between £500 and £1,000 a year?

The suspension or abatement of a pension awarded under the Civil Superannuation Acts in the event of the pensioner being re-employed in an office in a public Department is dealt with by Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, to which I may refer the hon. Member. A retired officer of the Army, Navy or Air Force re-employed in a civil capacity is not normally subject to suspension or abatement of his retired pay, which is, of course, awarded under conditions quite different from those applicable to civil pensions. I am not aware of the employment in the Ministry of Labour of any officer with a service pension approximating to £l,000 per annum, tout I understand that a number of retired senior officers of His Majesty's forces with considerable service pensions are employed in the Ministry of Pensions in posts for which their qualifications and experience render them peculiarly suitable.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are any in receipt of Civil Service pensions employed at full rates in either of the other Departments?

I should doubt that, but if the hon. Member will put a question down, I will look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many conscientious objectors to military service have been given employment by the Government since the Armistice; how many still remain in Government employment; and if there is any work which these men are doing which could not as well be performed by ex-service men now out of employment?

The employment in Government Departments of conscientious objectors to military service is only permitted in the case of certain individuals who already held permanent appointments. The total number so employed was estimated a year ago at 210 to 230; but I am not aware whether any of the men then employed have since left Government service. On the grounds for their retention, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Report of the Select Committee on the Civil Service (Employment of Conscientious Objectors).