§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state on what grounds the Board of Customs and Excise have given instructions to their collectors and inspectors that Customs officers must in future take their ordinary annual leave at any period for which they may be minuted throughout the year or otherwise forego their leave; whether he is aware that this order inflicts injustice on a large body of public servants, and that the Customs staff is the only Government Department so treated as regards leave; whether the order of the Board of Customs and Excise is in accordance with Paragraph 10, Establishment Code, which lays down that when possible the annual leave shall be granted during the most desirable months rather than in the officially busy winter and spring seasons; and whether the subject will be reconsidered?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE:I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for South Kilkenny on this subject.