§ 18. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many industrial civil servants draw travelling allowances in respect of daily journeys to and from their place of work; and what is the total annual amount involved.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI regret that there is no information centrally available about the number of industrial civil servants who are helped by Departments in meeting the daily cost of travel to and from work. The present annual cost of these arrangements is approximately £1 million.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIf the Chancellor does not know what the position is, why is he forcing the Ministry of Works to sack 44 men whose only crime under the working rule agreement of the 200 building industry is that their travelling allowance comes to 11s. a week? Are there not more honourable ways of effecting economies in Government services?
§ Mr. ButlerI should like to investigate the case which the hon. and gallant Member has drawn to my attention and, until I have investigated it, I should not like to give an answer.