§ 15. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Postmaster-General what was the total overtime worked by postal workers in December, 1968, and January, 1969,- compared with December, 1967, and January, 1968; and how the total volume of mail compares in this period.
§ Mr. StonehouseTotal overtime in December, 1968, and January, 1969, was 10.8 million hours compared to 121 million hours during the same period a year earlier—a reduction of 10.7 per cent. The volume of mail posted during the same period fell by 6.7 per cent.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsThe trend of those figures, in line with the Postmaster-General's estimate on 23rd January last, is to be welcomed, but may we have additional information on how the right hon. Gentleman expects the figures to go over the next few months?
§ Mr. StonehouseI thank the hon. Gentleman for his remark, but I cannot give an exact figure. We are achieving fairly good results in the reduction of excessive hours, and we hope that these will be continued.