§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he will state what staff is placed in charge of the House with a view to do carpentry work and other works of repair in that line; whether any applications have recently been made to him to increase the permanent staff or such staff as exists; are such repairs done by contract or by direct labour; and how much the repairs cost annually.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)There are six men in the direct employ of my Department, of the class to which the hon. Member refers, but they are not engaged specially on carpentry. I am not aware of any applications for the increase of this staff. Repairs generally at the House are done by contract, and the labour is supplied through the contractors. The carpentry work costs, perhaps, £1,000 a year, but the amount varies considerably from year to year.