§ 42. Mr. VIANTasked the Postmaster-General the amount of overtime worked by the staff employed at the Post Office Savings Bank Department, Kensington, during the two years prior to 30th November, 1936, and the number of persons affected?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL (Sir Walter Womersley)The amount of overtime performed by the staff of the Savings Bank Department during the 12 months ended 30th November, 1935, was 349,000 hours and during the next 12 months 467,000 hours. Of these amounts 293,000 and 414,000 hours 2165 respectively were performed by clerical staff. Practically the whole staff, which numbers over 3,000, was affected. My right hon. Friend is fully alive to the importance of reducing overtime to a minimum, and every effort is being made to accelerate the recruitment of additional staff for the Savings Bank. Seventy-five additional officers have been recruited since 1st October, and the position should become progressively better as further recruits are obtained.
§ Mr. AMMONCan the hon. Gentleman say at what rate recruits are being obtained; and is it not disgraceful that so much overtime should be worked when there are so many people unemployed?
§ Sir W. WOMERSLEYMy hon. Friend has enough experience of this Department to know that we must have properly trained employés. We are making every effort to get the right type of persons, and are training them and putting them to work as quickly as possible.