§ 36. Mr. BARNESasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a general 878 scheme of compulsory overtime has been devised by the authorities in the sorting office at Glasgow providing for compulsory overtime for every day of the current year; if this is at variance with the evidence of Departmental witnesses before recent Committees; and if it is with his knowledge and consent that such an encroachment is being made on the private time of the staff?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI find that, in consequence of temporary pressure which has necessitated an unusual amount of overtime, a scheme of rotation on overtime work has been introduced at Glasgow with a view to minimising the inconvenience caused to individual officers who might otherwise be required to attend at short notice. It is contemplated that in ordinary circumstances no officer will be required to perform extra duty more than once a week, and in no case would he be liable to be called upon more than three times in a week. The recent Parliamentary Committee were informed that, generally speaking, overtime could be performed by volunteers, though, if they were not forthcoming, it was compulsory on the staff to perform overtime. I understand that the overtime is not sufficiently continuous or regular to justify the employment of additional established staff, but I am making further inquiry into this aspect of the matter.