§ Mr. BAKERasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the sorting office at Chertsey Post Office is infested with rats, has not been decorated for at least 11 years, has a leaking roof, has no windows but only a skylight, has only seven small and worn-out gas burners for lighting, and is continually pervaded by a bad smell; that the men's lavatory cannot be used owing to its proximity to the sorting office; that the messengers' room is in a very dirty condition and is pervaded with a foul smell even with the doors and windows open; that the women's lavatory is divided from the women's retiring room only by a partition, and that it cannot be used when meals are being taken in the retiring room; and that the inadequate accommodation and insanitary arrangements are undermining the health of the staff; and whether he will undertake that an immediate start will be made to build the new Post Office building on the site already purchased?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNI am aware of the conditions at the Chertsey Post Office. As the site for the new office has now been purchased, and, as an extension of the existing lease can only be obtained at a substantial increase in rent, I propose to arrange for building work to start as soon 1913W as possible and in time for the present office to be vacated when the lease expires at Christmas, 1925.