§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Postmaster-General what is the total force at present employed in Post Office and telephone factories and mechanics' workshops in Great Britain and Ireland, respectively; and what will be the estimated numbers when the recommendations of the Factories Committee have been carried into effect?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe figures are 1,465 in Great Britain, and 12 in Ireland. It is not yet practicable to furnish an estimate of the numbers as they will be when the recommendations of the Factories Committee have been carried out.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Special Board appointed to inquire into and report upon the cases of those engineers denied the new scales of pay authorised under the reorganisation of the engineering department completed their labours some weeks ago, and also that the delay which has taken place in announcing the result of the reconsideration is giving rise to a feeling of unrest and discontent. 2967W amongst the officers affected, he will give some indication of the nature of the points of difficulty not yet settled?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have now been able to come to a decision on this matter, and I find that I shall be justified in granting the new scales of pay to a considerable number of engineers who were left on their old scales in the first instance. The changes will take effect as from the 1st July, 1911.