§ 9. Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on the latest position nationally with regard to the supply of telephone equipment by contractors to the Post Office and the extent of delays.
§ Sir J. EdenThe Post Office informs me that some 33 per cent. of contracts for exchange equipment were subject to delay at the end of January. Although improvements are being made, I am keeping in touch with the position.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this inordinate delay means that many persons who applied for the installation of domestic telephones in February last will have to wait until November, 1973? Could he not do something about it? It is not possible to establish factories in development districts and put the unemployed to work producing equipment, thus minimising this unfortunate delay?
§ Sir J. EdenThe hon. Gentleman is right that delays are responsible for a substantial percentage of the waiting list. I am concerned about this and am having discussions with the major contractors and the Post Office.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are no longer prepared to accept the argument that we have been getting from his predecessor, namely, that previous investment programmes are the cause of the delay? Is he aware that firms have given delivery dates and the 18 months' delay is on these delivery dates? Will he co-operate with the Ministers in his former Department to deal with this?
§ Sir J. EdenAs the hon. Gentleman knows, many of these delays in deliveries relate to crossbar equipment on which there have been special development problems. Having said that, however, I emphasise that this is a matter for very 487 great concern, and I am having discussions with my colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry.