§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Postmaster-General whether, during the week ending 8th July, female operators in the Trunk Telephone Exchange have been compelled to perform overtime duty from 8.0 p.m. to 10.0 p.m., and have in some cases been listed for a duty terminating as late as 10.0 p.m.; and whether, in view of the statement that compulsory detention beyond the regular limits should be eliminated from the female duties by increasing the night male operators' staff, he "will order that an adequate increase of the male staff shall be sanctioned without further delay?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL:During the week ended 8th July it was necessary for certain telephonists in the trunk exchange to perform extra duty between the hours specified. On certain days of the ensuing week—but not in the week ended 8th July —some duties of ordinary duration were scheduled to commence later and to terminate at ten p.m., in accordance with the wishes of the staff. The extra duty alluded to has been necessitated not by any shortage in the authorised complement of night operators, but by the fact that some of the men of whom I spoke in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 30th May last as about to undergo training have not yet become fully efficient. None of the telephonists worked overtime on more than one day in the week.