MR. GIBSON BOWLESOn behalf of the hon. Member for the Hoxton Division of Shoreditch, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state the actual number of postmen employed at the East Central District Office at the date of the publication of the Report of the Tweedmouth Committee; what is the present number of established, auxiliary, and temporary postmen respectively at present employed at the East Central District Office: and what material alterations have been effected at that office since 1897.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe actual number of Postmen employed in the East Central District Office on the 1st April, 1897, was 975, these being all established men: and at the present time there are 1297 on the books, comprising 1184 established, 123 temporary, and 113 auxiliary, the 123 temporary men standing against absent reservists or vacancies. Of these totals, the largest number on duty at one time—on 1st April, 1897, was 495, and is now 565. Since 1st April, 1897, the retiring-room area available for the postmen's use has been increased from 2501 to 4087 square feet, and sanitary accommodation has also been materially increased.