§ 50. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Prime Minister, in connection with the ex- 1331 isting delays in the transmission of private telegrams, whether his attention has been called to the fact that 987,807 Government telegrams were dispatched in January of the present year, the last month when actual figures are available, as compared with 43,635 in January, 1914;what classes of Government servants are permitted to and telegrams at the public expense; and what, if any, checks are imposed to secure that Government telegrams are only sent on matters of urgency which cannot be dealt with through the post?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHFrom the beginning of the War the growing number of Government telegrams has caused anxiety, and Government Departments have been frequently urged to use the post when telegraphing was not absolutely necessary, and to shorten the texts of all messages. Generally, the certification of free telegrams is limited to permanent Civil servants and commissioned officers, but during the War persons temporarily employed who have been nominated by the several Departments have been allowed to certify. A scrutiny is made in the Post Office of Government telegrams, and those which appear to be irregular are reported to the Departments concerned.
§ Sir H. CRAIKWould it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to arrange with the public offices that only those in responsible positions at the head of branches of Departments should sanction the sending of telegrams, as was the case until comparatively recent years in all Government Departments?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI am afraid, if that were carried out, that the heads of the Departments would be doing nothing else all day.
§ Sir H. CRAIKThe right hon. Gentleman mistakes my question. I did not say that; I asked whether the heads of particular branches of Departments might not be asked to sanction the sending of these telegrams, as used to be the practice? It did not lead to any unnecessary work in previous days.
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHIf the right hon. Gentleman wishes it, I will have it inquired into, but I think the answer will be the same.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSWould it not be better if each Department paid for its own telegrams? It would be a natural check.
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThey are debited with the cost of them now.
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI should want notice of that question.