Mr. A. DAVIESasked the Postmaster-General whether he is responsible for the wages, hours, and conditions of caretaker-operators or whether these matters are disposed of by the interposition of a sub-contractor; whether he employs a girl operator seventeen years of age at Stone house, Gloucester, whose hours of duty are 8 p.m. to 4.30 a.m. every night in the week, with additional duty every Sunday, the Sunday attendance being 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. alternatively; whether the wages paid, inclusive of war bonus, amount to 11s. per week; and whether, in the interests of national economy, he will inquire whether such a payment is justified?
§ Mr. PEASECaretaker operators are paid a fixed weekly remuneration for providing the necessary attendance at small telephone exchanges during the hours when the traffic is light. In addition to this they are allowed free quarters. Personal attendance is not required; and caretaker operators are at liberty to make their own arrangements with the staff whom they employ. I have no knowledge of the case referred to.