§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that many Irish female clerks in the General Post Office in London have for a number of years had their names registered as desiring to transfer to Dublin, that such transfer is frequently desired for health reasons, and that Miss Bradley, one of these clerks, was some months ago compelled to retire on pension although she had made repeated applications for a transfer to Dublin on account of health, he will explain why a junior female clerk with less than two years service is about to be 503 transferred from London to Dublin on account of ill-health.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I explained in writing to my hon. friend, as long ago as 7th April last, the circumstances which unfortunately disqualify Miss Bradley for further service in the Post Office. The disqualification applies obviously no less to service in Dublin than to service in London.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that several Savings Bank women clerks of Irish nationality, who had, or who had not, registered their names as desiring transfer to Dublin, were asked by the savings bank authorities, either privately or officially, some time before the present Government came into office, if they would be willing to serve in Dublin; that the average vacancies for women clerks in Dublin number only one or two a year; that several Savings Bank women clerks of Irish nationality had already registered their names as desiring transfer to Dublin; and that, as it is now officially denied that the late Government contemplated the transfer of the Irish Savings Bank work to Dublin, he will now say why such a number of Savings Bank women clerks were, at the time referred to, asked whether they would be willing to serve in Dublin.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) This Question is identical with one put by my hon. friend on 14th May. I fear I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on that occasion.
§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that a number of Savings Bank women clerks were asked by the Savings Bank authorities, either privately or officially, some time before the present Government came into office, if they would serve in Dublin; that about fifty-eight women clerks serving in London had already applied for transfer to Dublin; that the number of vacancies for women clerks in Dublin averages only one or two per annum; that the late Government contemplated the transfer of the Irish Savings Bank work from London to Dublin; that the percentages of Irish 504 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 to 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 Buxton.) I have nothing to add to the various replies which I have given to my hon. friend's previous Questions on this subject, except that I must not be taken as admitting the accuracy of the numerous statements which his Question contains.