§ 33. Commander Locker-Lampsonasked the hon. Member for Dulwich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he has yet come to any decision as to which of the three alternatives for raising the £2,400 necessary to pay 70 per cent. of his staff full-pay he is going to adopt?
§ Mr. Bracewell SmithThe advisability or method of raising the sum mentioned in the question has not yet been considered by the Kitchen Committee. I will inform the hon. and gallant Member as soon as a decision has been made.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonIs my hon. Friend aware that I sent a letter to Members of this House the answers to which have not yet been received, and that, therefore, instead of raising this question to-day, I will ask the hon. Member's agreement to postpone it till a later date, when we shall have got fuller facts?
Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Lambert WardIs it not a fact that already all employés of the Kitchen Department receive three weeks' holiday in the year on full pay, and that in addition 30 per cent. of all the employés receive an additional three months' holiday on half pay?
§ Mr. Bracewell SmithThat is quite correct.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonIs it not also true that the Law Courts pay in full?
§ 34. Commander Locker-Lampsonasked the hon. Member for Dulwich, as Chair, man of the Kitchen Committee, what 2827 would be the cost of agreeing to take on the 70 per cent. of the staff who normally would be dismissed this week for two months until the House reassembles in October; and whether he will do this so as to enable his Committee to consider final measures after the House reassembles.
§ Mr. Bracewell SmithThe cost of paying full wages to 70 per cent. of the kitchen staff, referred to in the Question, until the House reassembles in October would be £1,200. The Kitchen Committee have unanimously decided that this payment cannot be made.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonHave any payments been made to the relatives of the two unfortunate people whose deaths have been reported?