§ Mr. WILESasked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that in celebration of His Majesty's Accession remissions of sentences and condonation of certain offences have been granted to the Navy, Army, mercantile marine, and the Metropolitan Police Force, it is his intention to advise, as an act of grace, a remission or reduc- 1192 tion of punishment or disqualification to Post Office servants?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe circumstances differ in the Post Office from those prevailing in the other Services mentioned by the hon. Member. The punishments awarded for offences or irregularities are extra duty, loss of stripes carrying loss of pay, deferment of increment, withholding of promotion, reduction and dismissal. I fear it is not possible to devise any system of remission of these punishments which would be workable without giving rise to serious inequalities, even if it were desirable to adopt such an innovation. I do not propose, therefore, to take the action suggested by the hon. Member.