§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Exchequer and Audit Department is the only Government Department which prohibits the staff from lunching outside the building; if so, will he explain why; whether he will state the amount of the Treasury allowance towards the up-keep of the luncheon-room in this Department, exclusive of free housing accommodation, fire, and light; whether the managers of this luncheon-room have now nearly £300 profit to their credit in the bank; if so, will he explain why this profit has not been paid into the Exchequer; and, seeing that this profit has been made because of the prohibition to lunch outside the building, will he consider the advisability of bringing this Government Department into line with other Government Departments by allowing the members the option of lunching where they please.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman) The amount of the allowance is, as shown in the Estimates—
| £ | |
| Servants | 50 |
| Maintenance of Plant | 26 |
| Total | £76 |
§ I am informed that the balance of about £300 on the "31st March, 1907, was 863 produced by exceptional causes and is now in process of reduction. It is not payable to the Exchequer, because it is the property of the members of the Department. Such matters as arrangements as to lunch are within the discretion of the heads of Departments.