§ 6. Mr. FOREMANasked the Postmaster-General whether any progress has been made in his Department during the recess in substituting temporary female civil servants not dependent on their own exertions for their livelihood by ex-service men without any employment at all and with families to maintain?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Illingworth)An instruction has recently been issued to the clerical departments of the Post Office that temporary women clerks not dependent on their earnings must be discharged to make way for ex-service men. As regards the manipulative staff, an instruction was issued in January last that in arranging the discharge of temporary staff the first to be discharged should be those not dependent on their earnings. The temporary force of the Post Office has now been greatly reduced.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGHas the right hon. Gentleman taken any steps to 752 ascertain what proportion of the total employees of the Post Office are ex-service men?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI cannot say without notice.
§ Mr. BILLINGWould the right hon. Gentleman for his own information take such steps?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHIf the hon. Member will put down a question I will give an answer.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLWere not those figures issued in the White Paper which was circulated by the Government about a fortnight ago, and does not the right hon. Gentleman think that his Department should be aware of all the facts?
§ Mr. BILLINGAre we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that Ministers only do that which they are badgered to do by Members of Parliament?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI am afraid I cannot remember all the figures.
§ Mr. CLYNESWhat steps are taken to determine whether women are dependent on their earnings or not?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHEnquiries are made into their circumstances.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSIf women who are not dependent on their earnings are discharged, are men who are not dependent on their earnings also discharged to make way for ex-service men?