§ Mr. ALDENasked the Postmaster-General, whether the clerical revisory scheme for the engineering department of the Post Office provides for the reduction in the number of assistant clerks employed in that department in London from 159 to 91; and, if so, when and how he proposes to effect this reduction?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe total number of assistant clerks now employed in the officers of the superintending engineers is ninety-seven, not 159. Their employment will, in future be confined to London, and their numbers will be reduced to ninety-one as vacancies occur. These numbers exclude any officers transferred from the National Telephone Company, who may be graded as assistant clerks.
§ Mr. ALDENasked the number of assistant clerks, excluding transferred officers of the late National Telephone Company, employed in the engineering department of the Post Office; the grade of clerks, with scale of pay, to which they are eligible for promotion; the number of such promotions that have already been made; and the number of assistant clerks at present eligible for such promotion?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELOne hundred and fifty-three assistant clerks, excluding officers transferred from the National Telephone Company, are employed in the engineering department. Of these about forty have served for the period of six years which, when coupled with special merit, may, in exceptional cases, warrant the advancement of an assistant clerk to a higher post. Four assistant clerks have been offered such exceptional promotion since January, 1905, in each case to the third class of clerks; but two refused the offer because transfer to the provinces was involved. There is no ordinary course of promotion for assistant clerks.
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§ Mr. ALDENasked how many officers of the late National Telephone Company have been transferred to the Post Office as assistant clerks; and how many of such transferred officers will be called to the service of the engineering department?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELTwo hundred and seventy-three officers of the National Telephone Company have been provisionally transferred to the class of assistant clerks. Of this number about 123 will be employed in the engineering department.
§ Mr. ALDENasked the Postmaster-General whether two assistant clerks employed in the engineering department of the Post Office have refused the offer of appointments to the grade of third-class clerks (superintending engineers' offices, provinces); and, if so, on what grounds the appointments were declined by these officers?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe facts are as stated by the hon. Member. Both the officers concerned refused the promotion offered because they were unwilling to take up duty in the provinces.