§ 14. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Postmaster-General what steps he is 374 taking to provide houses for specialised employees, such as telephone maintenance engineers, stationed permanently in villages.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIn the absence of special circumstances it would obviously be improper for me to attempt to secure priority for Post Office staff in the matter of housing. Where, however, an essential service has to be provided in a remote area, such as the Western Islands of Scotland, the Post Office is ready to consider buying or erecting houses for its staff, if accommodation would otherwise be unobtainable.
§ Mr. MacphersonWhy does the right hon. Gentleman not consider erecting houses in cases where, if a man is promoted, his successor obviously will go down to the bottom of the list and may never get a house at all until he is promoted or loses his job?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI do not want to be involved in a tied house controversy.