§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)asked the Postmaster General, Whether the officers employed in the travelling post offices in England are paid overtime for every hour they are on duty on Sundays; if so, how is it that two hours' pay per Sunday is stopped from officers doing similar duty in Ireland, notwithstanding that the late Postmaster General, Mr. Fawcett, undertook to place the men in this Department in both countries on the same footing; whether it is a fact that the officers employed in the travelling post offices in England are paid 6d. per trip risk money when dealing with registered letters; and, if so, why a similar allowance is not made to officers doing the same duty in Ireland; and, why a Memorial on the latter subject to the Inspector of Mails, bearing date 30th of April, 1887, still remains unanswered?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the hon. Member's Question, I have to state, first, that in England officers attached to offices where Sunday duty is part of the regular work of the staff are, when employed in the travelling post office, paid extra for all Sunday work in excess of an average of two hours per Sunday, and officers in Ireland are so paid also. In England, however, much of the work is performed by officers attached to the General Post Office, London, where Sunday duty is not part of the regular work of the staff; and these officers, when working in the travelling post office on Sunday, are paid extra for all the work they do. As regards the payment of 6d. per trip risk money to officers of the travelling post-office, when dealing with registered letters, I understand that such payment has been 864 made in some instances. Should the practice be maintained as a permanent arrangement, I will take care that, the conditions being similar, it shall be extended to Ireland. The matter, which is still under consideration, will necessarily take time to settle.