§ Mr. KEATINGasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that in the Customs branch of the Customs and Excise Department, owing to the depleted staff, the officers are required to take their annual leave from March to December, and that, in the Excise branch, the officers are having their leave from June to November; and whether he will equalise the treatment of the officers of the two branches in respect of having leave allocated during the more desirable months of the year?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE:It is the standing rule in both the Customs and Excise that, subject to the requirements of the Service, every effort should be and is made to allow officers who so desire to take their leave during the more desirable months of the year; but it is obviously not possible to guarantee this privilege to every individual member of the staff.