Mr. CHARLES FENWICK (for Mr. Bottomley)asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the reason for the delay in giving effect to his repeated promises to promote 63 sub-engineers who 2288 qualified for the position of second-class engineer at a Civil Service examination held in January last?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Sydney Buxton)I regret that there has been some unavoidable delay in giving effect to the promotion of these sub-engineers. I am in communication with the Treasury and the Civil Service Commissioners on the subject, and the promotions will be carried out as soon as possible.
Mr. C. FENWICK (for Mr. Bottomley)asked the Postmaster-General whether, when the new Civil Service examination for sub-engineers was being introduced, he promised that all candidates who failed to pass the first examination would have ample facilities for study afforded them before being called upon to sit for reexamination; and, if so, will he explain why the officers concerned have been recently informed that the Postmaster-General now finds that the only facilities which can be granted consist of permission being given to these officers to cease work when, and only when, they have completed their normal hours of duty, provided that longer attendance is not required by the exigencies of the service?
§ Mr. BUXTONI regret that it has frequently been found necessary to call upon sub-engineers to perform overtime. In the case, however, of those who failed at the first examination in January, I will see that their hours of work are, as far as possible, restricted to eight a day, and that they are given whatever facilities for study can be arranged.