§ 38. Sir R. THOMASasked the Postmaster-General having regard to the fact that the Report of the Committee on the Inland Telegraph Services was made early in January, but not issued till now, whether he will state, in view of the importance of this question, what is The cause of the delay?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Everton (Colonel Woodcock) on the 13th March.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Committee on the Inland Telegraph Service laid stress on the fact that the Post Office services were suffering from an atmosphere of inertia, and is it due to that atmosphere of inertia that there is this delay in the issue of the Report?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI do not think, in the first place, that the hon. Member is quite correct in his quotation from the Committee's Report. In the second place, if he will do me the honour of referring to the answer which I have mentioned, he will see that it is not the case that there has been any delay.
§ Sir R. THOMASDoes not the right hon. Gentleman admit that the Committee's Report complains that the Post Office services are suffering from an atmosphere of inertia?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI think that perhaps the hon. Member had better wait until the matter can be discussed suitably. It can hardly be discussed by question and answer.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs not the whole of the present Government suffering from inertia?