§ 74. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Commissioners, following the precedent of 1912, are prepared to grant an allowance to the attendants and officials of the House for the extra work entailed by the autumn Session during the last few years?
§ Mr. BILLINGBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that, may I ask him whether he is aware that the cost of food and travel is almost double, as well as the work?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe allowance granted by the Commissioners in 1913 was a special Grant made in view of the very exceptional character of the Session of 1912–13, and was not to be taken as establishing a principle. Recent Sessions have fallen below the Session of 1912–13 in the number of sitting days, and in the length of sittings, and the Commissioners have not thought it necessary to make any special Grants. They have, however, though not bound by the precedents applying to the Civil Service, extended to the staff of the House of Commons the war bonuses granted by various awards to the employés of public Departments.