§ 11. Captain Orrasked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the allowance payable for the maintenance of cats in his Department was last raised; what is the total amount involved; what is the present rate per cat in Northern Ireland; and how this compares with the rate in London.
§ Mr. GammansThere is, I am afraid, a certain amount of industrial chaos in the Post Office cat world. Allowances vary in different places, possibly according to the alleged efficiency of the animals and other factors. It has proved impossible to organise any scheme for 5 payment by results or output bonus. These servants of the State are, however, frequently unreliable, capricious in their duties and liable to prolonged absenteeism.
My hon. and gallant Friend has been misinformed regarding the differences between rates for cats in Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom. There are no Post Office cats in Northern Ireland. Except for the cats at Post Office Headquarters who got the special allowance a few years ago, presumably for prestige reasons, there has been a general wage freeze since July, 1918, but there have been no complaints!
§ Captain OrrHow does my hon. Friend account for the fact that no allowances are payable for cats in Northern Ireland? Is it because the post offices there are more sanitary, and will he say what happens if a cat has kittens? Is there a family allowance payment?
§ Mr. GammansThere are no cats in Northern Ireland, I presume, because there are no mice in post office buildings. With regard to the children's allowances, I am afraid there is none. But the head postmasters have full discretion to give a maternity grant.
§ Mr. RankinCan the Minister tell us whether his Department provide an adequate maternity service.
§ Mr. GammansVery adequate.
§ Mr. GammansEqual pay has been accepted both in principle and in practice.
§ Captain OrrIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise this matter again.