§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state what amount is provided for marriage gratuities to young ladies in the post offices and in the telegraph offices of the United Kingdom for 1901–2; will he explain why it is proposed to give £1,000 less this year than last year for marriage presents or gratuities to the ladies of the telegraph department; and is it estimated that there will be fewer marriages.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe amounts provided for marriage gratuities in the Estimates for 1901–2 are as follows: postal, £4,250; telegraph, £6,500. The reason why a reduced amount is provided for the telegraph service is that in the last two years there has been a falling-off in the expenditure, and the full amount voted by Parliament has not been required.