§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the expenditure now incurred in providing two units of uniform 984W by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to the sixty or more assistants who had, after an absence of fourteen months, been returned from the Excise to the Customs branch; whether he has considered whether the wearing of uniforms by Customs assistant examining officers and surveyors is necessary and desirable, in view of the frequent colds contracted by officers being obliged to wear it after lying in damp vaults and cellars overnight; whether uniform was forced to be worn under threat of suspension by the Board of Customs and Excise, at the instigation of the clerks in the Secretary's office; whether, if uniform must be worn, he will explain why collectors in the capacity of surveyors were not compelled to wear it; why junior examining officers, at a salary of £110, had to purchase uniform when upper section preventive officers, at a salary of £200, had uniforms supplied by the Crown; and whether he will consider if the wearing of uniform by officers of the landing and warehousing departments can with advantage be completely abolished or otherwise supplied to all examining officers, surveyors, inspectors, and collectors at the public expense?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe question of uniform is being considered by the Committee on the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Services, of which my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is chairman.