§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Postmaster-General if he can state the present annual 1158W cost of the existing combined force in the postal and telegraph branches of the Irish Post Office stores in Dublin; whether any revision is proposed, and at what cost, and what was the annual cost of the staffs of the two branches prior to their amalgamation under the control of the London Controller of Stores; how many officers are now employed in the joint establishment in Ireland, and how many were employed in the postal and telegraph sections before the amalgamation; what financial benefit, if any, has any officer attached to the Dublin stores branch before the amalgamation derived from the amalgamation; has any officer transferred from London to Dublin on or after the amalgamation derived any financial benefit therefrom or prospective advantage; if so, to what extent, has any complaint been made by officers of the old Irish stores branch as to the conditions of their work and prospects and disciplinary methods, involving written explanation of every apparent irregularity, even trifling, in the new branch; if so, how have these complaints been dealt with, and how does he reconcile the dissatisfaction with his statement of 2nd May, 1907, that the amalgamation then decided upon would not adversely affect or alter the status of the then existing Irish stores branch staff, but on the contrary might well in some cases put them in a better position; and have any officers attended or been obliged to attend beyond their fixed official hours of attendance without extra payment?
§ Mr. BUXTONI am not at present in a position to answer this comprehensive question, but I will write to the hon. Member on the subject as soon as I have collected the necessary information.