§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St, Patrick's)In the absence of the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, I bog to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recently-appointed Under Inspectors of Factories are only being paid £100 per annum, without any personal expenses, although they are doing similar work for which their predecessors 99 were paid from £200 to £300 per year; and whether, in view of the fact that they have had to remove their homes from one part of London to another at their own expense, and also that this salary without personal expenses may place temptation of bribery in the way of these Inspectors, he will take steps at an early date in order to make arrangements for some increase of salary to be paid to these Inspectors, and for payment of their travelling expenses when away from home?
§ * MR. ASQUITHThe scale of salary for the new class of Inspectors' assistants was fixed by the Treasury on the recommendation of the Home Office at £100, rising by £5 annually to £150, and all the applications and appointments were made on that footing. Their being required to take up their work at their own expense was in accordance with the universal rule of the Service. Any expenses incurred by these Inspectors in visiting workshops or travelling on official business are re-imbursed from public funds. They are allowed an allowance when they have been absent from home for not less than 10 consecutive hours of 3s., which is equal to that allowed to Her Majesty's Inspectors. I see no ground for raising their salary, or making in their favour an exceptional arrangement as to expenses.