§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a telegraphist at Longford, Ireland, has been informed that he must have twenty-seven months approved good service to his credit before his pay can be adjusted; and whether, seeing that the Departmental witnesses before the Select Committee of this House have repeatedly stated that after twelve months approved service increments withheld for disciplinary purposes are adjusted, he will investigate the whole of the circumstances.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONAn increment withheld for disciplinary reasons can be restored after twelve months approved service; but the pay cannot be "adjusted," that is to say, raised to the point at which it would have stood if there had been no stoppage of increment, until after a further period of at least three months. In the case to which the hon. Member refers it had been necessary to withhold an increment twice, and in accordance with the usual practice a longer period of good service was required before adjustment.