§ 32. Miss PICKFORDasked the Postmaster-General how many women telephonists have accepted employment until 11 p.m.; how many men are working as part-time telephonists with no other Post Office employment; how many men are working an 87-hour week; and whether he will hold an inquiry into the conditions of night work with a view to 2172 the up-grading of part-time trained telephonists?
§ Sir K. WOODSince I made an appeal a short time ago to women telephonists to volunteer for evening employment, some 70 in London have volunteered and next week a number will, I hope, commence such duties at one of the London exchanges. This number will, I hope, be augmented when it is more fully realised that my object is to improve the night telephone service in accordance with the experience of all other telephone administrations, that no man who is dependent for his livelihood upon the Post Office will be adversely affected, and that there will be various advantages to those women telephonists who undertake such duties. The number of part-time night telephonists in London with no other Post Office employment is 874, but a considerable number of them have other whole-time employment. The number of men who attend for 87 hours is 4; these men are only employed at small exchanges where they are able to obtain a reasonable amount of sleep during their attendance. I am keeping the conditions of night work under constant observation with a view to the creation of full-time appointments where justified.