§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the Postmaster-General if he could state, in regard to paragraph 99 of the Hobhouse Report, which stated that an officer employed in substituting another of superior rank on full-time duties for any period exceeding two months in each year should be paid, until he resumed his ordinary duty, the minimum salary of the class to which the officer he substituted belongs, whether it was the intention of the Committee that the officer performing the higher duty should be paid only for the period over and above two months; and whether the period of two months was regarded as the qualifying period, or whether it was intended that a period of two months should be deducted in each successive year of an officer's performance of higher duties?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Sydney Buxton)The qualifying period used to be six months. This, on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Com- 1656 mittee, I have reduced to two months. I understand their recommendation to be that each calendar year is regarded separately for this purpose. Cases in which hardship is caused by this rule are treated exceptionally.