The Gazette 1967/71

MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN'S ALLOWANCE TO PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN SEMI-STATE BODIES A point which is of considerable interest to professional workers arose in a recent dispute before the Labour Court between the professional staff employed by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards and the Institute claim ing parity with their opposite numbers in the Agricultural Institute. It was stated that the entry qualifications for employees in both Institutes are identical i.e. an honours degree and a professional qualification or its equivalent. In Ocober, 1966, professional employees in the Institute of Indus trial Research and Standards were conceded parity in pay scales with their opposite numbers in the Agricultural Institute, but at that time they failed to obtain marriage and children's allowances. It appears that the Agricultural Institute is the only semi-State body which follows the civil service rule of paying such allowances in addition to basic salary. The point at issue in the recent reference was the claim of the professional personnel in the I.l.R.S. to marriage and children's allowances. It was stated that the claim, if conceded, would have to be extended to a total of about 275 pro fessional, technical and clerical staff, which could not be supported by the Institute because of its limited resources. Marriage and children's allow ances in the State service originated in 1926 when, as an economy measure, single persons were offered a lower salary in return for a higher salary when they would get married. At that time what are known as the administrative grades accepted the proposal; the professional grades did not. This picture has continued to the present day, and such persons as engineers, chemists, technical staff, and presumably lawyers, do not get marriage and children's allowances. On the other hand there are the farcical positions that an accountant who has come up through the service does get marriage and children's allowances, while the person employed directly as a costs accoun tant does not. There is, therefore, the clear picture in the civil service that marriage and children's allowances through a historical reason are paid to the administrative but not to the professional E.A.P. 230

Lease map. Indemnities as to roads and services. Certificate under Section 72 of the Registration of Title Act 1964. In the opinion of the Council the charges in respect of these items should properly be borne by the lessor or vendor. The Council disapprove of the imposition on the lessee or purchaser by the solicitor for the lessor or vendor of charges for postage and petty outlay. 2. The Council recommend the following basis of charging the first lessee or purchaser of a new house including cases in which the trans action is carried out by way of building agreement and agreement for lease, and regardless of whether the lessor's or vendor's title is registered or un registered : In the case of houses costing not less than £5,000 and not more than £10,000 a charge of 2% where there is a mortgage con temporaneous with the mortgage and a charge of \-\% where there is no contemporaneous mortgage. Where the purchase price is less than £5,000 a charge of not more than £80 should be made. No recommendation is made in respect of trans actions for more than £10,000. The recommended charges are exclusive of dis bursements. Recommended fee Purchase Price Purchase Purchase with without mortgage contemporaneous mortgage £5,000 £75 £100 £6,000 £90 £120 £7,000 £105 £140 £8,000 £120 £160 £9,000 £135 £180 £10,000 £150 £200 Over £10,000 — No recommendation — Where the prices does not exceed £5,000, the fee should not exceed £80 in any case. 3. The Council are of the opinion that the costs of a vendor lessor or builder of a new house should not be charged to lessee purchaser or employee.