HC Deb 19 April 1971 vol 815 cc793-4
15. Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many Post Office workers did not return to their employment at the conclusion of the postal workers' dispute.

12. Mr. James Johnson

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many postal workers were employed by the Post Office on the day before and the day after the postal strike.

Mr. Chataway

These are management matters for the Post Office, who have indicated that additional wastage was less than half of 1 per cent. of all postal workers.

Mr. Janner

Was not the fact that the wastage was not much more than usual due to the situation that workers were not replaced when they left their jobs? What steps does the Minister propose to take to increase recruitment into the Post Office, and when does he expect to receive the report of the inquiry into the Post Office dispute?

Mr. Chataway

I have no indication when the committee of settlement is likely to report, although I understand that it will be before the end of this month. Recruitment is a matter for the Post Office.

Mr. William Price

Is the Minister aware of the fact that during the postal dispute the West Midlands Gas Board went in for a spot of strike-breaking by putting out 600,000 bills to a pirate firm and has now had to admit that thousands of them were never delivered? Would the Minister confirm that the only reliable source of delivery is the Post Office?

Mr. Chataway

I am afraid that the incident about which the hon. Gentleman purports to give details is unknown to me.

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