§ MR. PALMER (Reading)I beg to ask the First Commisioner of Works whether about 100 men employed in the Royal parks as gatekeepers and labourers have received a year's notice to leave; whether these men have been in the service of the Government for ten, fifteen, or more years, and are men of good character; whether there is any other reason for their discharge than that they are over sixty years of age, and will the Government grant these men, if of good character, any bonus or pension; and is it the intention of the Government to fill up their places; and, if so, by what, class of men.
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASAbout thirty men will be discharged from the Royal Parks this year on account of age and infirmities; but it is not proposed to discontinue the services of any men under sixty-five years of age unless, in the opinion of the Department, they are physically incapacitated for work. They will, however, on retirement, receive such grants as they may be entitled to; and their places will be filled by men of similar class, the park-keepers or gatekeepers being selected, as usual, from Army or Navy pensioners.