§ Viscount VALENTIAasked the Postmaster-General why postmen are still employed at the general post office at Oxford in news and letter-packet sorting and dispatching work for which sorting clerks and telegraphists are engaged, with the necessary qualification of a Civil Service examination, to which postmen are not subject?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELWork of the kind referred to by the Noble Lord has been assigned to postmen at many offices for a number of years past, and so far as I am aware the work has been efficiently performed. The whole question of the employment of postmen on sorting duties has been under my consideration following the Report of a Departmental Committee which I appointed to investigate the subject. On a revision of staff or other convenient opportunity, I propose to reconsider any cases in which—as at Oxford—postmen have full responsibility for sorting and dispatching or bagging large packets and newspapers.
§ Viscount VALENTIAIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some time ago in answer to a question of mine he said that this practice should be discontinued?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo. That was a different matter. Those were postmen who were engaged in doing work proper to sorting clerks, but in this case postmen are engaged in doing work which is being performed by postmen in a great number of offices.
§ Viscount VALENTIADo the postmen perform this duty in overtime?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo.
§ Mr. WILKIEasked the Postmaster-General if it is intended, in view of the new standard rate of wages for carters and horsemen now in operation in Dundee, to make provision for the new scales of pay to the mail drivers in the employ of the firm which supplies the conveyances for the carriage of mails in Dundee; and whether he will consider the possibility of making some allowance for the amount of Sunday work performed by these men, for which they receive no payment whatever?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI will inquire into the matter, and communicate with the hon. Member.