§ 22. Mr. William Brownasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the responsibility for conducting service correspondence in connection with the telegraph companies' traffic passing over the inland telegraph system is being transferred partly to private enterprise; that this involves no conservation of manpower, but devolves Post Office responsibility and work to private enterprise; 755 why this is being done; and whether he is satisfied that such a transfer is in the national interest?
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. W. S. Morrison)I am aware that the treatment of routine traffic inquiries relating to telegraph companies' traffic passing over the inland telegraph system has been modified. The hon. Member is, however, under a misapprehension in suggesting that this involves no conservation of man-power for it has in fact made possible a substantial saving in man-power, and this was its primary object. The suggestion that the change constitutes a transfer of work to private enterprise is fallacious, and I am satisfied that the change is in the national interest.