§ MR. W. THORNEI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether the night telephonists in London were represented before the Hobhouse Committee; whether their hours of duty are 54 per week, composed of night and Sunday duty; whether he will state what recommendations of the Select Committee bore on these hours of duty; and whether he will consider the possibility of reducing them.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe night telephonists in London were not represented before the Hobhouse Committee, but, in accordance with the Committee's recommendation in paragraph 5 of their Report, I have considered the conditions of employment of those men. Their hours of duty are 54 per week, made up of night and Sunday work, and is largely watching duty. There does not appear to be any reason to alter these hours.