Mr. T. WILSONasked the Postmaster-General whether the percentage of sorters and postmen in the London postal service who have joined the Colours is higher in comparison than for any other section of the Civil Service or other public service; whether, while in other services and in private employment attempts are being made to comb out men up to the age of thirty-one, in the case of sorters and postmen only those on the upper age eligible for military service are left; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability in the public interest of no further drain being made upon these sections of the postal service?
§ Mr. PEASEI am unable to make the comparison suggested the materials for which are not available. My right hon. Friend considers it his duty to release for military service all men who can possibly be spared, even though it becomes impossible to maintain the postal service at the pre-war level of efficiency.