§ 29. Mr. Goldingasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make it a condition of approval of the capital investment programme of the Post Office that it increases its investment in telecommunications.
§ Mr. ChatawayI have approved a rising programme.
§ Mr. GoldingIs the Minister aware that many of us on this side will be very pleased to hear that, since the President of the C.B.I. and the T.U.C. are demanding increased investment to get rid of some of the scourge of unemployment? Will he see that the increased investment is well spent and that the delay in providing equipment, which is now 15 months, is decreased?
§ Mr. ChatawayThe capacity of the telephone service is determined by investment decisions five or six years ahead. Against an investment in telecommunications in 1969-70 of £362 million, the figure in 1970-71 was £419 million, and we shall be over £450 million this year.