§ 29. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he is aware that there are many workers in the Post Office Corporation with take-home pay of less than £12 per week; and, in view of the Government's policy to assist the lower paid workers to increase their incomes, if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office Board that they should increase the pay of their lower paid workers.
§ Mr. PentlandThe Government's views on low-paid workers are set out in the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 4237) and will no doubt be taken into account by the Post Office and the unions in future pay agreements. No direction is called for.
§ Mr. LewisWe want to see the Government taking practical steps to implement their declared policy that it is their intention to help the lower-paid worker. Will not my hon. Friend ask the Post Office to do that by increasing the wages and salaries of its lower-paid workers?
§ Mr. PentlandIf the Post Office were thought not to be tackling the problem of lower-paid staff in a proper manner, the first remedy would be to refer the matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. But the Post Office is considering several pay claims, and we know from informal discussions that careful thought is being given to the lower-paid staff.