§ Mr. Ammonasked the Postmaster-General (1) how many male adult full-time manipulative employés of the Post Office receive less than £2 a week, between £2 and £2 10s., between £2 10s. and £3, between £3 and £3 10s., between £3 10s. and £4, and over £4 a week;
(2) how many female adult full-time manipulative employés of the Post Office receive less than £2 a week, between £2 and £2 10s., between £2 10s. and £3, between £3 and £3 10s., and over £3 10s. a week?
§ Captain WaterhouseThese two Questions can conveniently be answered together. The estimated numbers of adult full-time manipulative employés of the Post Office whose pay fell within the specified ranges as at the 1st April, 1939, are stated below. These are the latest figures available and the collection of up-to-date information would occupy considerable time and entail a large amount of labour as well as expense, which would not be warranted in present circumstances. There is no reason to suppose however that a further investigation would produce results differing materially from those now given, apart from those arising from the withdrawal of large numbers of men for service with the Forces and the engagement of temporary staff in their place.
Wage ranges. Men. Women. Under 40s. a week 1,200 150 40s. and under 50s. a week 4,200 5,400 50s. and under 60s. a week 20,600 7,900 60s. and under 70s. a week 44,600 7,000 70s. and under 80s. a week 17,700 1,700 80s. and over 17,200 500 The vast majority of these officers are on scales of pay and rise by annual increments to prescribed maxima. Most of those included in the first two categories above (under 40s. and from 40s. to 50s.) are persons who by reason of short service or relatively low age have not yet earned a sufficient number of increments to bring 806W their pay above 40s. or 50s. a week as the case may be.
§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider the wages position of postal workers in receipt of less than £5 per week, and, in particular, those with £3 a week, who, in 1938, received an increase of 5s. per week which has been more than wiped out by a rise in the cost of living of 3s. per week and an increase in deduction for Income Tax from 1s. 5d. per week to 4s. per week as from 1st April, 1940?
§ Captain WaterhouseThis Question is one that affects the Civil Service as a whole and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a Question on the subject of Civil Service pay by my hon. Friend the Member for Rusholme (Mr. Radford) on 2nd April, of which I am sending him a copy.