§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Postmaster-General whether he will state what expenditure would have been involved if the Report of the Hobhouse Committee had been adopted in the case of the sub-engineers; and what saving is expected to be effected by the scheme which has been substituted?
The hon. Member further asked (1) whether it is intended that qualified sub-engineers shall continue to perform second-class engineers' work at the lower salary of subengineers, or whether the appointments of all sub-engineers promoted will be dated as from 1st January, 1908, in accordance with the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee? (2) Whether 63 out of 143 sub-engineers who sat at the examination recently held for second-class engineerships succeeded in satisfying the examiners; and, if so, seeing that the Hobhouse Committee recommended that all qualified sub-engineers, with three years' service and upwards, should automatically become second-class engineers, will he explain why only 10 additional appointments to the class of second-class engineers are provided for in the latest Estimates?
§ Mr. BUXTONI will answer these questions together. The recommendations of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants as regards sub-engineers applied only to future entrants. As regards existing members of the class, I hope, as I have already explained to the sub-engineers, to be able to offer promotion at a comparatively early date to most of those with three years' service as sub-engineers who succeed, after a first or second attempt, in passing the Civil Service examination for the position of second-class engineer and who are otherwise qualified for promotion. Sixty-three sub-engineers have already passed the examination. Provision for the increased expenditure involved is made in the Post Office Estimates for this financial year, but not in detail, as the necessary additions to force have not yet been formally authorised.