HC Deb 01 November 1911 vol 30 cc875-6
Mr. STEEL-MAITLAND

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to change the headquarters of the engineering department of the Midland District of the Post Office from Birmingham to Nottingham; if so, what are the reasons for the change; and when is it intended that the change should take place?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)

The superintending engineer's headquarters will be moved from Birmingham to Nottingham as part of a general arrangement for assimilating the districts of the superintending engineers to those of the surveyors. Such an arrangement is highly expedient for the smooth and efficient working of the service; and is especially necessary in view of the forthcoming transfer of the National Telephone Company's undertaking to the Post Office. The change will be made at once. I need hardly say that the telegraph and telephone interests of Birmingham will in no way suffer, and the growth of the stores staff at the Birmingham depot will probably before long quite make up for the removal now contemplated.

Mr. AMERY

Is not it a fact that the identification of the surveyors' department with the engineering headquarters has not been carried out in several places—notably at Bristol, Exeter, and Cheltenham—and that in other places the matter has been delayed in some instances?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

A Committee recently sat on this subject, and extensive changes are now proceeding with a view to assimilating the surveyors' districts and the superintendents' districts all over the country, with the exception of one or two cases in which very special considerations apply.

Mr. AMERY

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose also to divert the stores centre now at Birmingham, the great headquarters of the National Telephone Company, which are shortly to be taken over, and the main underground cables, which are at Birmingham, in the centre of the great industrial area, which they serve at present?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

There is no proposal to alter the cable route, and the stores department at Birmingham is more likely to expand than contract.