asked the Minister of Labour whether caretakers of Employment Exchanges are entitled to an annual holiday with pay?

Caretakers of Employment Exchange premises are eligible for annual leave with pay, provided that by the taking of such leave no additional expense for substitution is occasioned to the Department.

Are we to understand that they can have leave with pay if they pay people to do their work while they are away?

This is an arrangement which was arrived at in 1924 between the Treasury and the Workers' Union.

What exactly does it mean?

It means that, if the staffs are such that the work can be rearranged among them, the worker gets leave without having to pay, but if additional staff is to be engaged, he has to pay.

If there is only one member of the staff, must he provide somebody else to do the work and pay him?

Does not the statement made by the right hon. Lady show that the offices are permanently overstaffed?