§ MR. STOREY (Sunderland)I desire to ask whether in the latest Post Office Circular the Postmaster General announces that it is not competent for any Post Office servant to become a member of a District Council, nor even to offer himself as a candidate, while, as regards Parish Councils, before one can serve he must obtain the permission of the head of the Department through his superior officer; whether, having regard to the answer given the other night by the Secretary to the Treasury, the Postmaster General intends to modify this Circular, so as to enable Post Office servants to serve either on District Councils or on Parish Councils, without asking for any previous consent of their superior, provided that such service does not interfere with the discharge of their duty to the State?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI desire to thank my hon. Friend for having given me private notice of the question. The date of the Regulation he will see is the 14th of August, and the answer of my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury was given on the 16th of August. 26 No doubt under pressure from the House of Commons the decision of the Treasury was slightly modified, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Post Office will not be behind other Departments in the matter.