HC Deb 05 November 1936 vol 317 c243
65. Mr. VIANT

asked the Postmaster-General the number of hours worked in overtime by the telephone engineers in London during 1934 and 1935, and to the end of September, 1936, also the number of men affected; and to what extent has the number of such engineers been increased or decreased during the aforementioned period?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Major Tryon)

I am obtaining the particulars asked for and will send them to the hon. Member.

Mr. R. C. MORRISON

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take early steps to stop the systematic overtime in the Post Office?

Major TRYON

The position is that work is very heavy, but that in the period referred to we have increased our engineering staff in the London area by 1,800 to cope with the difficulty.

Mr. MORRISON

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a number of engineers have been working overtime systematically for many months past?

Major TRYON

That is why we are increasing the staff, and we have increased them more rapidly in the present ye than in any previous period.