§ Mr. Piratinasked the Postmaster-General what is the minimum rate of pay and the average rate of pay for Post Office engineers; and how this compares with engineers of similar skill in other sections of the engineering industry.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingI assume that the hon. Members refers to rank-and-file grades. The rank-and-file Post Office engineering grades are paid on incremental scales. The following table gives the minimum rates of pay at age 21 and at age 25 for a 44-hour week.
— Minimum Rates At age 21 At age 25 London Provinces London Provinces s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Labourers 83 0 79 0 95 0 91 0 Skilled Workmen Class II (B). 87 0 83 0 99 0 95 0 Skilled Workmen Class II (A). 93 0 89 0 105 0 101 0 Technicians 97 0 93 0 110 0 106 0 The minimum for Skilled Workmen Class I, which is independent of age, is 121s. in London and 116s. in the Provinces. The scales rise to the following maxima:
183W
— London Provinces s. d. s. d. labourers 98 0 94 0 Skilled Workmen Class II (B). 114 0 110 0 Skilled Workmen Class 11 (A). 120 0 116 0 Skilled Workmen, Class I 130 0 1125 0 Technicians 155 0 148 0 The average rates of pay at any time depend on the numbers of staff that happen to be at each point of the scale, and are therefore variable. The following statement gives the average earnings (including overtime, etc.) and hours of work for adults on each grade (London and provincial) during the last pay week in October, 1948.
—— Average Earnings Hours of Work s. d. Labourers 104 1 47.0 Skilled Workmen Class II (B). 117 9 47.7 Skilled Workmen Class 11 (A). 126 0 47.3 Skilled Workmen, Class I 141 2 47.5 Technicians 151 1 48.2 The great majority of these men obtain pensions (non-contributory) on retirement.
As to the second part of the Question, the Post Office rates of pay are the subject of discussions now in progress between my Department and the trade union concerned, and it would be inappropriate for me to express any view.