HC Deb 14 November 1951 vol 493 cc959-60
18. Mr. R. E. Winterbottom

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if any conclusion has yet been reached in the negotiations for cash payments for all services rendered by the Post Office to all Government Departments.

Mr. Gammans

No general negotiations are in progress, and so long as the manpower situation remains difficult no change in present arrangements is likely.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is not the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that negotiations were already commenced and the Treasury were associated with this; meetings had taken place with the Air Ministry in order to get cash payments for this service? Surely he is aware of that?

Mr. Gammans

I am aware of that and also that the Treasury stated they did not wish any alteration to be made in the present arrangements.

Mr. Ness Edwards

But are we to take it that the Post Office will press the Treasury to see to it that they assent to the claim made by the hon. Member when he was on this side of the House?

Mr. Peter Roberts

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that if a cash payment were made it might lead to economy in the use of telephones in Government Departments and might be beneficial to the national interest as a whole?

Mr. Gammans

This matter has been considered on several occasions and the answer, briefly, is that in order to create the sort of arrangement my hon. Friend suggests a large amount of additional staff will be required.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the number of staff involved in this is extremely small; the figures have been given to the House and the extra cost is trifling compared with the saving that might be obtained along the lines of the argument of the hon. Member?