§ MR. SNOWDEN (Blackburn)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the uneasiness throughout the Excise service at the changes contemplated in the way of transferring the establishment licences to the local authorities and the Excise work to the Customs; and can he assure the Excise officers that their interests will be properly safeguarded and that they will not suffer financially nor so far as regards their present prospects of promotion.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEUntil the changes referred to have actually taken place, it is not possible to forecast the future needs of the public service. I may, however, take this opportunity of stating that I shall be prepared before the end of the present financial year to consider favourably a recommendation from the Board of Inland Revenue to award gratuities to those Excise officers who may be called on to undertake the new work this autumn in connection with old-age pensions.