§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state what is the reason for the recent discharges at the basket shop at the Mount Pleasant Factory; and if it is the intention in future to have the baskets repaired by private firms instead of employing the men direct, as at present.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) It has recently been decided to do more of the repairing of parcel baskets by contract at local centres, and this change has involved a reduction in the number of repairers employed at the Mount Pleasant Factory.