§ Mr. JOYCEasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention had been called to the fact that female officers had been recently employed at the public counter at Limerick general post office, contrary to the Departmental instructions issued in 1907 forbidding their employment at the postal side in the absence of cloak-room accommodation; whether an objection had been lodged by the female staff on these grounds; and whether he would consider the advisability of cancelling that arrangement, in the interests of the public and staff, pending suitable provision being made?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Departmental instructions issued in 1907 did not forbid female officers being employed at the public counter on telegraph duties, and had no relation to the question of cloakroom accommodation. Those instructions reserved the postal duties for the male staff in order to enable them to have as frequent relief from night duty as possible. No objection has been lodged by the female staff on the grounds suggested, but I will inquire into the question of accommodation to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention.