HC Deb 23 February 1966 vol 725 cc408-9
57. Mr. Harry Howarth

asked the Postmaster-General when work will start on the building of the Giro Central Office.

Mr. Benn

The Ministry of Public Building and Works expects to let the contract for the building shortly. Work on the site will start on 1st April, 1966.

Mr. Howarth

I thank my right hon. Friend, but will he go a little further and state the expected completion date and whether there will be any delay in this building?

Mr. Benn

We do not expect any delay. It was decided only last July to have the Giro system and work on the building starts next April. It will come into operation in 1968. With the prospectus that is coming out soon, we believe that this is being tackled well within the terms of the Labour Party manifesto, to which the hon. Member for Howden (Mr. Bryan) referred earlier.