asked the Postmaster-General what was the overall staff shortage in his Department in London and in the United Kingdom as a whole, respectively, on 1st December, 1960, and at the latest convenient date.

The overall shortages on 1st December, 1960, and 1st December, 1961, were about 6,900 (or 2 per cent.) and 6,200 (or 1·7 per cent.), respectively. The corresponding figures for London were about 4,100 (or 3·3 per cent.) and 3,000 (or 2·3 per cent.).