§ MR. CLAUDE HAYI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether foreigners have been appointed as night operators in the State telephone service in London; if so, whether they have been naturalised; and whether no capable linguists exist among the present staff.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThere are at present two Frenchmen among the staff by whom the continental telephone lines are worked at night. I understand they have not been naturalised. There are four or five Englishmen who assist in working the lines in question; but all of them have not as great facility in colloquial French as is desirable in the interests of users of the telephone.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some time ago notice was issued by his Department to the effect that no more foreigners were to be employed at the Post Office, whereas two Frenchmen have been appointed on the Trunk Exchange and four more are about to be appointed?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI had better have notice of the Question in regard to specific cases. But as a general rule, while we would naturally employ British subjects, there may be cases where 1409 it would be to the advantage of the public to employ foreigners.