§ 6. Viscount WOLMERasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has made representations to the Postmaster-General with a view to the Post Office finding more employment; and, if so, what amount of additional employment has been provided?
Mr. THOMASYes, Sir. The Post Office have accelerated their programme of capital works for the current year, and this programme will reach a total of £11,600,000. It will provide a considerable volume of employment.
§ Viscount WOLMERHow much is the increased programme going to cost; the £11,600,000 is not all increase?
Mr. THOMASIf the Noble Lord will put that question to the Post Office, no doubt they will answer it.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs not the Lord Privy Seal aware that on 4th November he told the House that the Post Office were going to spend £1,500,000?
Mr. THOMASYes, and I said that it was covering an estimate of two years. That I understand is being done.
§ Viscount WOLMERLast year—
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDo you notice, Mr. Speaker, that that makes four supplementaries?
§ Mr. GRAHAM WHITEIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Postmaster-General, 969 in reply to a recent question, stated that his Department were employing 1,000 fewer skilled engineers, and will he confer with his hon. Friend on that point?
Mr. THOMASIt may be that the facts are as stated, but the Post Office, I hope, will be run on lines of efficiency. It may be that there is a reduction in one department, and an increase in another. No one has the right to expect the Government to run a department on less businesslike lines than anybody else.