HC Deb 23 February 1926 vol 192 cc304-5
99. Mr. SPOOR

asked the Postmaster- General if he can give any indication of the general health of women employed in Post Office telephone exchanges; and whether any medical statistics are avail able showing the causes and prevalence of illness?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

The statistics for 1924, which are the latest at present available, show that the average numbers of days of sick absence for telephonists were:

Days.
In London 12.6
In Provincial Districts of England and Wales 12.2
In Scotland 13.4
In Northern Ireland 12.3
The average sick absence of the whole established female staff of the Post Office in 1924 was 12.7 days. I regret that no statistics are available of the numbers of days' absence attributable to particular diseases.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why his own country suffered most in this respect?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I think the influenza epidemic in 1924 was responsible for it.