§ 26. Mr. Bryanasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give the Post Office Board a general direction that an annual report be published on the activities and cost of the recently appointed research team headed by Lord Snow.
§ Mr. StonehouseNo, Sir. It is for the Post Office to decide whether to publish such information.
§ Mr. BryanCannot the Minister at least give us more detailed terms of reference for the activities of that body? Will he make some comment on the statement by Lord Hall that members of it will not even be allowed into the Post Office?
§ Mr. StonehouseIt is not for me to comment on the detailed workings of the Post Office. The hon. Gentleman and I served on the Standing Committee which helped to pass the Post Office Act. We went through those labours to establish a Corporation that would get on with the job. We should let it do so, and not interfere in such details.