§ MR. C. DUNCAN (Barrow-in-Furness)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in the year 1900, and subsequently, a number of the clerks of the Second Division attached to the Customs Department, who were available for employment in other departments as required by the exigencies of the public service, were permanently established in the Customs as port clerks; and if he can state, in view of the forthcoming remission of the coal tax, and in the event of further remissions of Customs duties, how the redundant clerks can be disposed of under the revised conditions of service.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) It is true that in the year 1900 and subsequently a 776 number of Second Division clerks became port clerks on the permanent Customs establishment. The Board are not yet in a position to state how the reductions of staff which would follow on the abolition of the Coal Duty could best be effected, but they do not anticipate that any difficulties will arise. It would be premature to discuss the results of any further changes in Customs duties.