HC Deb 10 July 1907 vol 177 cc1596-7
MR. FIELD

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that a number of Savings Bank clerks were asked by the Savings Bank authorities, cither privately or officially, some time before the present Government came into office, if they would serve in Dublin in case the Irish work was transferred from London to Dublin; that the percentages of Irish deposits and withdrawals made through British deposit books, and vice versa, as worked out by the Savings Bank, either privately or officially, show only 1 per cent. approximately on the totals; that,, apart from the inconvenience of Irish depositors, Ireland loses £30,000 per annum by having the Irish Savings Bank accounts kept in London; that 99 per cent. of the manufactured stuff used in the Post Office in Ireland is not manufactured in Ireland; that clerical work can be as efficiently and, having regard to the cost of housing accommodation, more economically performed in Dublin than in London; and that it would be more in conformity with Irish ideas if the Irish Savings Bank accounts were kept in Dublin, he will further consider the advisability of transferring the work of keeping these accounts from London to Dublin.

(Answered by Mr. Sydney Burton.) I am afraid I have nothing to add to the various replies which I have given to my hon. friend's previous Questions upon this subject.