Mr. T. F. RICHARDSasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the hours of labour, the wages paid, and the number of men employed on the mail-cart service in Leicester and Wolverhampton?
The HON. MEMBERfurther asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the hours of work for carters and drivers employed on railway work in Manchester are less and the wages more than in the case of the mail-cart drivers employed in that city; and will he take steps to, at least, place the drivers of mail vehicles on an equal footing with other workers engaged on similar employment?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONThe inquiries which I am making respecting the conditions of employment of the mail-cart drivers at Leicester, Wolverhampton, and Manchester are not yet complete. I am ascertaining the hours of labour and the wages paid in these localities for similar work in order that I may be in a position to determine whether the Fair Wages Clauses in the contracts are being complied with. This involves considerable investigation, but I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.