§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Postmaster-General how many visits have been paid to Ireland by officers of the London stores department since the control of the Dublin stores branch was transferred to London in 1908, and the average duration of each, and the total annual cost, including salaries, travelling, and subsistence allowances?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe change to which the hon. Member refers was made in 1907. From that year to September, 1911, thirty-one visits have been paid; the average duration of these was thirty-seven days and a-half, and the total cost of travelling, subsistence, and salaries was £1,301. Of this sum £600 was spent in setting up the system, and is not a recurrent charge. If this amount be deducted the total cost for the five years is £701 for eighteen visits of the average duration of thirty-two days and a-half.