asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he will so reorganise telephone services in rural telegraph offices that the telegraphists are given a more reasonable and shorter duty rota than at present.

Rural post offices are under the charge of sub-postmasters who are contractors to the Department, provide the staff required and arrange their attendances. The hours of service at any sub-office are fixed by reference to the facilities provided at that office. Sub-postmasters receive extra remuneration if they are required to provide for extended or continuous telephone attendance. It is the policy of the Department to replace manual exchanges at sub-offices by automatic exchanges but it will be some years before conversion to automatic working is completed.

Would the Minister tell the House the actual amount of the extra remuneration?

The present rates were fixed by agreement with the Sub-Postmasters' Consultative Council in February this year.

The Minister has not the figures that were in operation up to a month ago?

I have not.