§ Mr. Forrestasked the Postmaster-General why senior positions in every department of the Post Office headquarters in Northern Ireland are filled by officers brought from Great Britain; whether local men were considered for these posts; and why they were not selected.
§ Mr. BevinsSenior positions in every department of the Post Office throughout the United Kingdom are filled by the best qualified candidates selected on a United Kingdom basis. I repeat the assurance I gave my hon. Friend in reply to his Question of 5th April last that the qualifications and experience of Northern Ireland men are always fully considered in making higher appointments, in Great Britain as well as in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Forrestasked the Postmaster-General what posts with salary of £1,600 or more in the Post Office in Northern Ireland have been filled in the past 12 months; and how many Northern Ireland men were promoted to these posts.
§ Mr. BevinsThe following posts in the Post Office in Northern Ireland with a salary of £1,600 or more have been filled in the past 12 months. These posts were all filled on a United Kingdom basis and none of them fell to Northern Ireland men:
Director; Senior Assistant Telecommunications Controller; Telephone Manager, Belfast; Assistant Head Postmaster, Belfast; Chief Clerk, Belfast Telephone Area; Head Postmaster, Ballymena.