§ MR.COOPER (Southwark, Bermondsey)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will give the numbers of acting, temporary, casual, and supernumerary sorters and auxiliaries in the London postal service; and whether, in view of the condemnation of auxiliary labour by the Tweedmouth Committee, he can state whether any, and, if any, what steps have been taken since 1902 to abolish this form of labour.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The number of acting, temporary, casual, and supernumerary sorters and un-established postmen employed for fulltime duties in the London postal service
§ particulars which the hon. Member desires are as follows:—
§ is eighty-three. Their number is gradually being reduced, The numbers of auxiliary sorters and auxiliary postmen are 545 and 1,964, respectively; but they are being reduced in numbers and replaced, where practicable, by assistant postmen, who will be absorbed in due course into the established ranks. Steps have been and are still being taken to reduce the amount of auxiliary labour. The Tweedmouth Committee, however, fully recognised the impossibility of dispensing entirely with the services of auxiliary postmen.