§ 32. Mr. John Pageasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the continuously deteriorating quality of the telephone system, he will call a meeting of telecommunications manufacturers and contractors to discuss the feasibility of private enterprise participation in providing some or all of those telephone services which are now the monopoly of the Post Office.
§ Mr. Edward ShortNo, Sir, The improvement of the telephone system depends primarily on the speedy provision of extra exchange and line plant and this is already the subject of close collaboration between the Post Office and the private enterprise manufacturers and contractors concerned.
§ Mr. PageDoes the right lion. Gentleman's Answer mean that he is refusing even to consider the handing over of the present G.P.O. monopoly powers to private enterprise even though they might be able to give a better service? Does he realise that his previous Answers to Questions, where he showed prejudice against Independent Television, will be remembered in this context?
§ Mr. ShortI hope that I do not show prejudice against anybody. The hon. Member's assumption is absolutely correct. I am not proposing to hand over any part of the telephone service to private enterprise. The basic problem in the Post Office is that in the 1950's—and I do not blame anybody for it—the forecasting of telecommunications needs was completely inadequate. That is the cause of all our difficulties, which will in,;rease for the next few years.