§ 34. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many part-time postmen are employed in Caithness and Sutherland; what are their average weekly earnings; to what extent they qualify for pensions on retirement; and what is the annual value of the pension.
§ Mr. GammansThere are 70 part-time postmen in Caithness and Sutherland, with average weekly earnings of £3 7s. They are not eligible for pensions in respect of their Post Office service; but those who work for not less than 18 hours weekly may, after seven years' service, qualify for gratuities on retirement under the Civil Service Superannuation Acts.
§ 35. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that, in a number of districts in Caithness and Sutherland where part-time postmen are employed, correspondence, which is delivered the same day in summer, is not delivered until the following day during the winter months; and whether he will consider using a greater number of full-time postmen, using light motor vans, for speedy delivery.
§ Mr. GammansThere are five districts in Caithness and Sutherland in which letters may have to wait for delivery until the next day in winter. In four of them most letters are delivered on the same day all the year round. The fifth district is Janetstown, where the postman has a 12-mile walk over ground which is waterlogged and dangerous in winter, especially after dark. For this reason a van would not help, and a full-time postman would clearly be uneconomical as the number of letters is very small.