§ Mr. KELLYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention had been called to the overworking of the staff at Somerset House, and to the fact that in the Estate Duty Office the officials are obliged to work several hours daily in excess of the official hours; whether, notwithstanding this, the majority of them are several days in arrears with the work imposed on them; whether any of them have been obliged to forfeit a portion of their annual holidays in order to clear off such arrears; and whether any have broken down in health under this excessive strain?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEWhile the work has necessarily accumulated in the Estate Duty Office by reason of the delay in passing the Finance Act for 1909–10 with its legislative changes, it is not correct to say that the officials as a whole are either obliged to work evertime or are still in arrears with their work, and I am not aware that any one in the Estate Duty Office has broken down in health because of pressure of work.