§ MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster: General, whether it is the intention of the Department to take any action toward obtaining any comfort for the postmen at the Eastern Central District Office with regard to their retiring room, on account of the state and inadequacy of space of the rooms referred to and the health of the men concerned; and, whether, in view of the length of time since the Tweed mouth Committee condemned the whole of the Old General Post Office, and that matters have become worse owing to the increase of the staff, he can take steps to expedite some extra provision for these men.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe retiring room accommodation for the postmen in the Eastern Central District Office is being considerably enlarged, and the additional space will be ready for occupation in a few days. The conditions of the General Post Office, East, have been materially altered since the date of the Tweed mouth Committee. There has been no increase of staff, but the force occupying it has been reduced by about one half.