HC Deb 17 November 1971 vol 826 cc408-9
31. Mr. Golding

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to take steps to improve the supply of exchange equipment from the contractors to the telephone exchanges.

Mr. Chataway

No, Sir. This is the responsibility of the Post Office.

Mr. Golding

Is the Minister aware that in the recent Post Office Report and Accounts it was made perfectly clear that the average delay in the agreed contractual dates of delivery of telephone equipment had increased from eight and a half months to 13 months and that that delay is the basic cause of the long waiting lists in many cities?

Mr. Chataway

The report shows that the percentage of contracts in delay has improved from 80 per cent. at 31st March, 1970, to 45 per cent. at 31st March this year, so there has been a substantial improvement in the past year. The contracts which are still very much delayed are in the main concerned with orders for Crossbar, with which there have been particular development difficulties.

Mr. McCrindle

I echo what the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding) has said. Will my right hon. Friend please look into the continuing delay in introducing the S.T.D. exchange at Brentwood? Its introduction date seems to be constantly delayed, much to the irritation of local residents and businessmen.

Mr. Chataway

I will ensure that the Post Office takes note of my hon. Friend's complaint.

Dame Irene Ward

And acts.

Mr. Bob Brown

Surely the Minister cannot be satisfied and so complacent. When he says that only 45 per cent. of contracts are now running over time, does not he think that, as the vast majority of the output of the British telecommunications industry is taken by the Post Office, the time is long overdue to establish in the development areas, such as the North-East, publicly-owned factories to produce telecommunications equipment?

Mr. Chataway

A high proportion of telecommunications manufacturing is done in the development districts. I am not complacent, but I say that the fact that 80 per cent. of such contracts were in delay when the present Opposition left office and only 45 per cent. are in delay now is a measure of progress.