§ MR. McHUGH (Sligo, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in Sligo Post Office officers who perform a considerable amount of night duty, from 1.45 a.m. to 9 a.m., are required to return on overtime, on Mondays, from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.; is he aware that for a considerable time past, even when the overtime attendance in this office was abnormal, the officers performing the night attendance were exempted from this overtime; and will he give instructions that this practice will be again introduced, or that a suffi- 1180 cient period for rest be given to officers on completion of their duty at 9 a.m.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I regret there should be any necessity for working overtime at Sligo, but it arises from the difficulty experienced at this time of the year, more especially in the North of Ireland, in providing substitutes for officers absent on leave. In the case of the particular officers in question the duty commences at 3.45 a.m., 1.45 a.m. on Mondays only, so that they enjoy an interval for rest of eleven and three-quarter hours after 4 p.m. No better alternative is feasible. The duties will be restored to their usual limits as soon as possible.