§ 24. Sir H. Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Technology what changes he expects will flow from the reorganisation of the Post Office, in so far as his sponsorship of the telecommunications industry is concerned.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeBearing in mind the fact that the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor in his present office failed to make any impact at all on the telecommunications front in sponsorship of that industry, will the present Minister express an earnest resolve to do more than his right hon. Friend did?
§ Mr. BennI think the hon. Member is being a little ungenerous to my predecessor, because when I went into the office I discovered that a great deal had been done and will continue to be done in this field. The Question asked what results are expected to flow from a change in the organisation of the Post Office. It it too early to say that.
§ Mr. MartenWill the right hon. Gentleman take the opportunity of this reorganisation to make a take-over bid for communications satellites and getting these away from the Post Office, because I believe that his Ministry is much more suitable to get this thing launched than the Post Office, which is more interested in ground stations?
§ Mr. BennThat is a separate question, but just before the 1964 General Election the hon. Member's Government signed on behalf of the Post Office an agreement under which we now operate and under 1380 which "Early Bird" is now operating. That raises another question.