§ Mr. E. Granvilleasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the low percentage of sub-postmasters who would benefit under the new regulation of paid annual leave for those not mainly dependent for their livelihood on earnings other than Post Office employment, he will amend this regulation so as to include those sub-postmasters who would be unable to make a livelihood without some other source of income; if he will initiate a scheme for head offices to provide holiday substitutes for village sub-postmasters; and if he will give the number of offices that have been closed down since the war due to lack of applicants for the post of sub-postmaster or mistress.
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§ Captain CrookshankThe arrangement under which, within limits, the Post Office reimburses a sub-postmaster for the cost of a holiday substitute was the subject of a recent agreement with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters. It covers all those sub-postmasters who are insurable as such under the National Insurance Acts, i.e., those who are not mainly dependent for their livelihood on earnings from other than Post Office employment, who render not less than 18 hours personal service each week in the capacity of sub-postmaster, and whose net remuneration in respect of indoor Post Office employment does not exceed £420 per annum. Some 9,000, or 40 per cent., of a total of nearly 23,000 sub-postmasters fall within this category. I regret that I cannot see my way to extend the concession, or to relieve the sub-postmasters concerned of the obligation to find their own holiday substitutes. As regards the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, exact information could not be furnished without considerable inquiry, but the number is not large.