§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instruction he has issued to his local officers regarding payment to Post Office employees who, respectively, were off sick before the commencement of the strike, and who became ill during its progress.
§ Mr. DeanUnder normal Post Office arrangements the great majority of employees undertake not to claim sickness benefit, and accordingly they receive full pay during sickness. These arrangements continue for those off sick before the strike started, but they have been suspended for strikers who fall sick. The Department's local offices have, therefore, been instructed to accept claims from such employees and, so far as strike conditions permit, they will be dealt with like other claims.