HC Deb 25 April 1956 vol 551 cc151-2W
82. Mr. Page

asked the Postmaster-General what organised suggestion scheme is in operation in his Department; how many suggestions are received from employees through that organisation annually; how many are adopted; what awards are made for such suggestions; and what he estimates to be the savings made by the adoption of employees' suggestions.

Dr. Hill

The Post Office Awards Suggestion Scheme received 4161 suggestions last year. Of these 444 were adopted. Awards were made for all the adopted suggestions and 674 encouragement awards were also given for other suggestions. The total sum awarded last year was £3,988. Most of the awards are for amounts between £1 and £10: the highest single award made so far is £250. It is not possible to assess the total savings made, though they are considerable.

In addition the Post Office, in agreement with the Departmental Whitley Council Staff Side, has, since 1949, operated a scheme of Joint Consultation on Productivity, under which Joint Production Committees at local offices and a Joint Production Council at Head quarters consider ideas submitted by the staff for increasing productivity.