§ MR. ION HAMILTONasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is the case that the Lower Division Clerks in the War Office are allowed much less 1417 annual leave than similar clerks in almost all the other public offices; and, whether it is therefore the intention of the Lords of the Treasury to recommend that a uniform scale of leave, and sick leave, should be fixed for Lower Division Clerks throughout the Service?
§ MR. COURTNEYThe leave of the staff of an Office is primarily a matter of internal discipline, to be settled by the head of the Department. This Question, therefore, should, perhaps, have been addressed to my noble Friend the Secretary of State for War; but I may say that I understand the War Office lower division clerks have the normal amount of leave. With reference to the latter part of the Question, I have to say that a Treasury Circular will shortly be issued, suggesting that heads of Departments should take united action, with a view of reducing the irregularities that at present exist in this respect.