Mr. BECKERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many officials in Government Departments are entitled to an aggregate of six weeks' holiday in the year; and whether, in view of the urgent necessity for economy, he will consider the question of reducing this allowance to one which is more in accordance with the customs of the ordinary business and commercial world?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERIt is estimated in round figures that out of the total staff of Government Departments amounting to over 300,000 some 12,000 are eligible for six weeks' holiday. This is a maximum period of leave and is in all cases subject to the requirements of the Service, and in many cases the amount of leave actually taken is considerably less than the maximum allowance. As regards the latter part of the question, I prefer to await the report of the Committee which has recently been appointed to inquire into the conditions of employment of the various classes employed in the Civil Service and the Fighting Services.