§ MR. H. H. MARKS (Kent, Thanet)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether the increase of 1,753 persons made in the female staff of the Post Office in 1908 was made in the interests of economy; and how the wages paid to the 1,753 women compare with the wages which would have been paid to men for similar work.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONIt has for years past been the practice of the Post Office to employ women upon certain classes of work which are considered to be suitable for them to perform, and it has been found that efficiency and economy result from that practice. I may point out that the respective increases in the female and male staff in 1908 were 1,753 and 2,666. In the Post Office, as elsewhere, women receive a lower scale of pay than men.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)Are some of the girls paid as low as 16s or 17s. per week?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONIt depends on the class of work. We are raising the wages of the typists considerably.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKERBut are some of the girls paid as low as 16s or 17s. a week?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman cannot carry the wages list in his pocket. Notice must be given of the Question.