asked the Postmaster-General the average rate of remuneration of salaried sub-postmasters, and the average number of hours per week on which they are required to be on duty?

The average inclusive annual remuneration of salaried sub-postmasters is about £272, and the normal attendance is 48 hours weekly inclusive of mealt-times. In certain cases, where sub-postmasters live on the post office premises, they are responsible for attention to telephone calls outside their normal hours of duty, and are paid for this service additional allowances varying from about £16 to about £33 a year.

Is it not a fact that at least 2,000 of these sub-postmaster's are only getting a minimum of £12 a year?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figure he has given is arrived at after deducting the expenses of the staff or whether it is a gross amount?

The question on the Paper relates to salaries of sub-postmasters. The supplementary questions refer to scale sub-postmasters, and are not applicable to the main question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any revision of these terms, either as regards remuneration or duties, is under consideration at the present time?

What difference to trade does it make to these local shopkeepers having postal facilities in their shops?

That is a matter of opinion.