§ MR. JOYNSON-HICKS (Manchester, N.W.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office factories are intended or used primarily for manufacturing purposes, or are intended or used primarily for repairing purposes; whether the factory buildings are utilised to their full capacity; and whether it is proposed to extend the use of the factories, more especially in view of the fact that the Post Office will shortly become the sole consumer of telephone apparatus in this country.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton) The Post Office factories are intended and used primarily for repairing purposes. I do not think it would be expedient largely to undertake in present circumstances at the factories the work of telegraph and telephone manufacture. Of recent years British manufacturers have, with Post Office encouragement, put down plants for telephone apparatus construction. It is to them I look for assistance in telephone development. My endeavour is to keep employment at the factories at a constant level. For this purpose I entrust certain items of construction work to them normally and others from time to time.