§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he is aware that in many offices, notably in Yorkshire, the daily duties of postmen are so arranged that the men are unable to benefit by the recommendation of the Tweedmouth Committee, that they should be enabled to have nine clear hours at home; and whether he will take steps to remedy the grievance complained of.
§ MR. HANBURYEvery endeavour is being made to carry out the recommendations of the Tweedmouth Committee as regards postmen being enabled to have nine clear hours' rest at home. The Postmaster-General is not aware that there are many offices in Yorkshire or elsewhere where this arrangement has not been carried out; but enquiry will be made in the matter, if the hon. Member 1480 will be good enough to specify the offices to which he refers.
§ COLONEL DALBIAC (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether the sorters in the letter branch of the Paddington district office are to have imposed upon them a form of split duties extending from 12.15 a.m. to 5.15 a.m., and from 7.15 p.m. to 9.15p.m.; whether he is aware that such hours will preclude the possibility of a proper night's rest, and whether the fact has been considered that this practically compels men to spend the time from 9.15 p.m. to 12.15 a.m. in the streets or in the nearest public-house, and that rule 14 forbids any officer off duty remaining in post office buildings; and whether, in view of the recommendations of the Tweedmouth Committee, he can see his way to prevent such arrangements coming into force.
§ MR. HANBURYIt will be necessary for five sorters in the Paddington District Office to attend at about the times stated by the hon. Member in order to carry on the work, and no other arrangement of the duties is practicable without undue expense or waste of force. The men can remain in the building during the interval mentioned if they wish to do so, there being no rule against this. Rule 14, to which reference is made, deals with an entirely different subject, but Rule 44, which is probably intended, prohibits sleeping on the premises without permission. The recommendation of the Tweedmouth Committee that, wherever it is necessary for split duties to be performed, the officer should have nine clear unbroken hours at his own home during each twenty-four hours will be complied with in this case, inasmuch as the five sorters in question will be off duty from 5.15 a.m. to about 7.15 p.m.