§ Mr. JOHN JONESasked the Postmaster-General whether very low rates of wages are paid by sub-postmasters in the London area; whether in the Earl's Court district as little as 16s. per week is paid for a week of fifty-four hours; whether 14s., £l 2s. 6d., and 35s. are typical wages for sub-office clerks in the same district; whether at Forest Gate a sub-postmaster requires an attendance of forty-nine hours for 17s.; whether at Clapham a week of fifty-two hours is given in return for 15s. and tea; how these figures compare with the wages and hours of established Post Office servants; and whether he will consider the possibility of introducing a more satisfactory system of direct employment?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHAssistants at scale payment sub-post offices are engaged and paid by the sub-postmaster; and the Post Office does not undertake more than a general responsibility for ensuring that the conditions of service are not inferior to those commonly in force in shops in the1432W same district. Without further details, I am unable to say how the wages quoted compare with those of established Post Office staff. I am afraid it would be impossible to abolish the scale payment sub-office system, which has been confirmed by successive Parliamentary Committees, without a very serious curtailment of the facilities afforded to the public for the transaction of Post Office business.