asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the payments due to clerical officers under the arbitration award made last February will be made.

All payments due under the award for the period 1st July, 1957, to 30th November, 1958, were made by 31st March. Most clerical officers will receive the new rates, with the rest of the arrears, by the end of May and nearly all 'the remainder by the end of June.

Why does it take so long for the Government to meet their obligations in this respect? Some of these clerical officers will have had to wait many months before they get the money to which they are properly and legally entitled.

The reason why it has taken some time to complete payments is the enormous complexity of the calculations of the arrears.