MR. STEWART HARDYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the reductions contemplated in the Coast Guard ashore are to be general throughout the kingdom or confined to particular stations; and, if the latter, whether he would object to name the stations affected by them?
§ MR. CHILDERS, in reply, said, that the reduction shown in the Estimates for the year 1869–70 of the coastguardsmen on shore was from 4,850 men to 4,625, that was 225, of whom fifty were civilians and 175 were seamen. The reduction would be made over the whole service, but the places at which those 225 men would be reduced were altogether fifty-six, principally in rivers above custom houses, and 564 men were now employed at them. No reductions were being made in Ireland or the east coast of Scotland. It would be scarcely worth while to print detailed accounts of this description, but he would show the hon. Member the Papers if he would call at the Admiralty.