§ 13. Mr. George Thomasasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the principles upon which he appoints sub-postmasters in cases where the sub-post office is situated in a shop.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsA vacancy for a sub-postmaster is normally advertised locally, whether or not the existing sub-office is run in conjunction with a shop. The advertisement invites applications from suitable persons, who are able to provide adequate accommodation and the necessary assistance to carry on the Post Office business. All the applications received are considered on their merits, in the light of the qualifications of the applicants, and of the suitability of the premises they offer.
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that in a recent appointment in Cardiff a man was ruled out because he had no military service, although he received a personal commendation from the King for work in Civil Defence during the war? Does he justify that sort of conduct by his Department?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI can assure my hon. Friend that that was not the case. The man was not excluded on those grounds. His application was taken into consideration, and the fact that he had been commended by the King was not counted against him.
§ Mr. ThomasIn future, will my right hon. Friend read his letters before he sends them to me, because I have already been assured that the appointment was made on the ground that the other man was in one of the Services?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI think that is an unwarranted aspersion. My hon. Friend knows that I had the whole file of letters in the House, and that I went through them meticulously, in part with him. To say that I sent a letter out after that without reading it is quite wrong.
Mr. VaneThe right hon. Gentleman said that one of the factors was the provision of adequate accommodation by the applicant for the job of sub-postmaster. Where there is to be a development charge under the Town and Country Planning Act does his Department pay it?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsNo, that is the responsibility of the sub-postmaster.