§ Mr. DENNISONasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that 50 men and women employed at the Birmingham General Post Office have received notice of dismissal, to take effect on the 1st August; that a number served as full-time sorting clerks during the period of the War, and have acted as part-time evening sorters since; and will he cause the practice of overtime working to cease at this post office with a view to retaining the services of the whole or part of those on notice?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONIt is the policy of the Department to restrict the employment of part-time labour as far as possible and, though the conditions at Birmingham have made it necessary to employ a number of part-time officers for some years past, a recent rearrangement of the work has made it possible to abolish the part-time posts. It is impossible entirely to avoid the performance of overtime against intermittent pressure, unexpected absences, etc., but, under the rearrangement, it is not anticipated that any appreciable amount of regular over time will be required at Birmingham, and the retention of the part-time officers in order to reduce overtime would not be justified. So far as possible, however, employment in other branches of the Post Office is being offered to them.