§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a uniform is issued to, and must be worn on duty by Customs Officers in Ireland; what is the first cost of the uniform for each grade of officer to the State; and what is the amount which the officer of each grade is obliged to pay for the uniform. I beg further to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government supply uniforms to Customs Officers in Ireland: what is the price paid per uniform by the State; and what is the price charged for the uniform to each officer.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS-BEACH,) Bristol, W.Uniform must be worn by Customs Officers when on duty. There is no charge by the State to Customs Officers of any rank for their uniform. Some of the lower grades of officers are supplied with uniforms at the public expense. Other Customs Officers procure their uniforms at their own expense. In the latter case, I have no means of knowing the amounts paid by individual officers.