§ MR. T. F. RICHARDS (Wolverhampton, W.)To ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that the maximum wage paid in the Wolverhampton telegraph department is 8s. per week less than prevails in the City of Birmingham, which is only distant 12 miles; and, seeing that the rent and cost of living are so much alike, whether he can see his way clear to raise the Wolverhampton office up to a level with the Birmingham one.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The classification of Wolverhampton is at present in suspense. Its final plan will be decided on the lines recommended 1711 by the Select Committee, that is to say, on the volume of work done, and the cost of living as ascertained by the Board of Trade. The units of work at Wolverhampton are only 656 as compared to 7,422 at Birmingham, and the Report 80 far received from the Board of Trade in regard to the cost of living shows that the cost of living at Wolverhampton is low and considerably lower than that of Birmingham. The cost of living is ascertained by the Board of Trade in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee, and I receive and accept their results.