§ 56. Mr. MALLALIEUasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to the action of the London County Council in raising the question of the centralization of the administration of the Poor Law in county and county borough councils; and does the Local Government Board contemplate any action in this direction?
Mr. FISHERThe London County Council have forwarded to the Local Government Board a proposal for the centralisation of the Poor Law administration within the county, with a view to the further equalisation of the Poor Rates. This proposal would involve legislation of a controversial kind, and I do not think it would be practicable to deal with the question at the present time.
§ 57. Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the wages of the women telegraphists were fixed by two Parliamentary Committees of inquiry, after official evidence had been given as to the hours and conditions of employment; whether he is aware that the hours of employment on which the wages were based have been materially altered for the worse; and whether, seeing that the conditions have been varied by the Post Office, inasmuch as the women are now called upon to work until 10.37 p.m., he will direct that 204 all women telegraphists of the Central Telegraph Office who are called upon to perform attendances covering hours of night duty shall be paid the equivalent age pay per hour of the men for all such, night duty performed?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe women telegraphists receive in respect of night duty; the same additional time allowance as male telegraphists—namely, one-seventh of the total duty performed between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. As regards the rate of pay I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to a similar question on the 24th of May.