§ Mr. CARR-GOMMasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Committee appointed to consider matters connected with the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments will report upon the claims brought forward by the senior watchers of His Majesty's Customs in a deputation which attended on 1st December, 1908; and, if not, whether he will now give his reply to the points raised on that occasion?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEAs stated in my answers to previous questions, the Committee referred to will not deal with the watchers. But several points raised at the deputation in December, 1908, such as overtime payment, are general ones which must necessarily be considered in connection with the proceedings of the Committee. It appears to me best, therefore, to keep the whole set of questions raised by the deputation open for settlement at one and the same time after the Committee has presented its Report.