§ The following Questions stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. PETER ROBERTS.
§ 21. To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will now authorise his Sheffield area officers to recruit more labour for the installation of necessary telephones.
§ 22. To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to release further supplies of materials to the Sheffield area to provide more necessary telephones.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsWith permission, I will answer Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.
Mr. RobertsOn a point of Order. These Questions are about two very different subjects. If the Minister intends to give a responsible reply I think that I should have one answer on labour and another on material.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThe reply to both Questions is really combined in the one answer. This is only a matter of convenience.
The restrictions on Government expenditure have made it necessary for the Post Office to limit the number of its engineering workmen, and I regret that I could not agree to further recruitment in the Sheffield area, which has its proper share of the total Post Office engineering force. Sufficient supplies of 1939 material are held to employ the labour available at Sheffield.
Mr. RobertsIs the Minister aware that some time ago the allocation of labour in Sheffield was cut and that now more labour is available? Will he restore the cut?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI think that the content of that supplementary question is wholly wrong.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThe labour force was not cut.
Mr. RobertsIs not the Minister aware that what I have said is correct? The second question I should like to ask is whether the Minister is aware that in Sheffield a profit is made on the telephone service, so that the money is available? Further, is he not aware that materials are now available? Why does he not do something about it, because if he does not he will never get to the end of the waiting list?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI cannot take the civil engineering force away from housing, which is a very pressing problem.