EARL COMPTON (York, W.R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the Postmaster General to what extent he has availed himself of the assurances of the recently suspended clerks of the Savings Bank Department with regard to voluntary extra duty in excess of the nine hours' compulsory duty; whether such assurances have enabled him to withdraw the Order compelling the staff to do two compulsory hours' overtime daily beyond the hours laid down by the Order in Council of 21st March, 1891; if not, how long will it be necessary to continue that Order; and whether there is any limit to the number of hours' overtime which the male staff of the Savings 13 Bank Department can be ordered to perform?
§ MR. RAIKESI have limited the total amount of extra duty for clerks of the male staff in the Savings Bank, including those who were recently suspended, to three hours a day. I am unable at present to say how long the arrears caused by the insubordinate action of the clerks, referred to by the noble Earl, will render it necessary to maintain the Order for two hours daily extra duty; but I shall be glad to rescind it as soon as I am in a position to do so. Overtime is not limited by any regulation of the Department. The requirements of the Public Service must be provided for, subject, of course, to a reasonable consideration of the capabilities of those engaged in its performance.
EARL COMPTONDo the three hours of work they do extra include the two compulsory hours laid down by the Order which the Savings Bank clerks objected to?
§ MR. RAIKESCertainly, Sir.