§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the Central Telegraph Office numbers of the staff are detained on overtime nightly up to as late as midnight after having already performed, in some cases, upwards of twelve hours' continuous duty; whether he is aware that by the system of rounding down overtime certain time is worked by the staff for which no payment is made; and will he make inquiry into the matter?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe pressure in the Central Telegraph Office in consequence of the Coronation arrangements was, of course, quite abnormal, and, in addition, the Parliamentary work has been, and continues to be, very heavy. I am glad to say that there has been no difficulty in obtaining willing volunteers to perform the necessary overtime during this period of pressure, and I find, on inquiry, that in few, if any, instances, has it been354W necessary to retain officers who had asked to leave after completing twelve hours' duty. Of course, in normal circumstances overtime is kept at the lowest possible point. The present system of payment for overtime work, taken as a whole, is, in my opinion, liberal.