§ Mr. MULDOONasked the Postmaster-General whether, on the transfer of the National Telephone Company's staff to his Department in January last, special allowances were made in respect of those 1810W members of the staff stationed in London;: and, if so, will he state whether such allowance is due to the cost of travelling, the higher cost of living, or the greater importance of work in the Metropolis as compared with provincial centres, or to what combination of these causes, or other causes, if any, such special allowance is due?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIn accordance with the memorandum circulated with the Telephone Transfer Bill the National Telephone Company's staff transferred to the Post Office are, as far as possible, being placed in the same classes as Post Office servants doing similar work. Some Post Office servants who do similar work whether employed in London or in the provinces are on a common scale of pay, those stationed in London receiving an allowance to meet the higher cost of living in London. Payments of London allowances in such circumstances were recommended by the Select Committee on Post Office Servants which reported in 1907. In placing certain of the Company's London staff upon scales with a London allowance their present pay has been held to include remuneration for living in London and no immediate increase has been granted to those whose pay was as much as, or more than the minimum of the scale.