§ Viscount VALENTIAasked if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that postmen at the Oxford General Post Office are employed on overtime to sort news and packets when batches of circulars are handed in by local firms as a general rule, besides being so employed on overtime when there is pressure; and if he will, as a revision of the indoor force at Oxford 2060 is in preparation, issue orders that the duties of postmen and sorting clerks and telegraphists shall be so defined as to avoid overlapping?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAs I explained to the Noble Lord last week, the sorting of newspapers and packets has for a long while been performed by postmen at many offices. The practice was brought to the notice of the last Select Committee and, pending the Report of the new Committee, I do not propose to change it. In cases of pressure there would be nothing unusual in continuing postmen on the work on overtime.