§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary of State for War the number of telegrams dealt with between the hours of 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. on the 16th, 17th, and 18th December instant at the telegraph office attached to General Headquarters, Great Britain; whether these numbers are sufficient to justify the retention of the military staff day and night at this office; whether nine Post Office servants are retained at this establishment who are in receipt of full civil and military pay in addition to allowances; whether they include one company sergeant-major, one sergeant, two corporals, two second-corporals, and three sappers; and whether, having regard to the urgent necessity for economy, he will take immediate steps to 1052W place the staff at this office on a civilian basis, as is the case at the War Office and the Admiralty, a system which ensures that the number of the staff shall be governed by the amount of work to be performed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe telegraph office referred to has been closed at 8 p.m. daily since 1st December, and no messages were therefore dealt with during the hours mentioned As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on Tuesday last in reply to the hon. Member for Wentworth.