§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agricul- 185 ture, whether a communication, dated 12th March, has been received from the secretary of the Royal Gardens, Kew, Employés' Union, in relation to a number of sub-foremen and gardeners employed at the Royal Gardens, Kew, who are under notice of dismissal; and, if so, will he say whether the Department intends to allow the precedent mentioned therein to stand.
§ The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Sir E. Strachey)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The sub-foremen and gardeners, to whom my hon. Friend refers, were not dismissed; their period of service terminated in ordinary course under the regulations applicable to the gardening service at Kew. It is not proposed to make a practice of extending the normal period of service, as was done in certain cases under exceptional circumstances last year.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLDo I understand the hon. Gentleman to say that when these men were appointed at Kew there was a time stipulated when they should cease to be employed?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYYes, sir.