§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether lie is aware that for the last thirty years the men of the Works Department have had an outing on the first Saturday of July, and that on the occasion they have been in the habit of coming to work on the morning of the day, and withdrawing at about 8.30 a.m., and have received pay for one half day, paying for the outing themselves; and will he explain why they have been this year deprived of this half-day's pay.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS, Kent,. St. Augustine's)The facts are as stated in the hon. Member's question. The practice referred to has applied, I understand, only to the works contractor's men employed about this building, and it-is proposed to substitute some more satisfactory arrangement. Meantime the half-day's pay this year will be made good.