MR. KEIR-HARDIE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that fines are inflicted for being two minutes late, even when attendance has to be given as early as 3, 4, or 5 a.m.; whether if, in addition to fines, extra duty punishment is inflicted for late attendance on the basis of 30 minutes' extra duty for being six minutes late, and one hour extra duty for being 16 minutes late; whether, in addition to the above, the annual increment in pay is liable to be stopped for a year in the case of a man late oftener than once; and whether he will consider whether this scale of late punishments cannot be modified, particularly in the case of early men?
§ MR. A. MORLEYThe rule differs at different offices. At some a fine and at others extra duty is imposed for late attendance; but at no office, so far as I am aware, are both fines and extra duty imposed for the same offence. If, however, the hon. Member will let me know to what office he refers, inquiry shall be made. An annual increment of pay is never stopped on the score of attendance, unless the attendance has been frequently irregular. I may add that, if the Post Office is to do its duty to the public, a rigid punctuality is essential.