§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he can now state the date upon which he intends to publish his scheme dealing with reclassification of offices; and whether he will consider the cases of these officers who have been waiting from five to fifteen years for promotion.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The question of reclassifying offices at towns where the cost of living is shown to be abnormally high is at present under consideration. It necessitates careful, and, I fear, somewhat prolonged inquiries. These inquiries are in progress, but I am not in a position to promise an early decision. No time shall, however, be lost, and I will do my best to expedite matters. The case of officers who have been at the maximum point of their scale for some time past, and whom it has not been possible to promote, does not affect the inquiry; nor can I admit that the fact of any officers being in such a position, of itself, constitutes a grievance.