§ MR. SEDDON (Lancashire, Newton)To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the notice recently issued regarding punishments for minor irregularities among the postal staff for the purpose of discouraging the practice of asking written explanations, and suggesting in place that verbal reproofs should be administered by supervising officials; whether he is aware that the superintendent of the Bristol telegraph staff has issued instructions to controlling officers that they should possess memorandum books and keep records of mistakes and minor offences; and whether, in view of this order, he will withdraw the recent notice, in view of its effect in securing the record of misdemeanours without the record of the officer's explanations.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The notice to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of his Question was issued by my special instructions for the benefit of the staff. Though the practice of recording minor irregularities has been discontinued experimentally, it will still be necessary to deal specially with cases of habitual carelessness, but where it is thought necessary to keep a record it should be an official record. There appears to have been some misunderstanding at 1288 Bristol, and I am taking steps to set the matter right.