§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Postmaster-General whether he will state on what grounds he has come to the decision that he cannot establish the permanently employed night telephone operators in the Post Office service; and whether he has considered whether these officers, performing responsible duties and engaged on continual night duty (which includes Sunday work without extra pay) and an attendance of twelve hours per week above that of established officers performing night duty, are sufficiently remunerated with a maximum of 30s. per week?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe work of night telephone operators is now carried out by men who do not necessarily have the age and other qualifications laid down for entrants into the Civil Service. It does not lend itself to rotation with other Post Office work, does not afford training for higher employment, and cannot advantageously be offered as a permanent career to young men. For these reasons I cannot favour the establishment of these operators. I regret that I am not in a position to improve their pay. The net weekly attendance in most cases exceeds by about six hours, not twelve hours, the attendance given by an established officer performing all-night duty, but the work is very much lighter than that of such an officer.