§ 56. Sir R. LYNNasked the Postmaster-General why the 86 supervising officers in the Belfast post office have not been graded on the same principle as the officers of Metropolitan post offices; and whether he is aware that the Metropolitan principle has been applied in the case of Customs, Excise and Inland Revenue officials in Belfast as well as to the Post Office clerical officers employed in that city?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe Metropolitan principle has not been applied for the purpose of assessing the pay of the staff at head post offices. The classification of the Belfast post office is the same as that of post offices in Great Britain where the volume of work is similar. I am aware that different arrangements are made in other Departments and in the case of Treasury classes.