Lord WALLACE OF COSLANYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is proposed to implement the recommendation of the Select Committee of 1966 that the Post Office would benefit by undertaking manufacturing work.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Beswick)My Lords, my right honourable friend is considering the preliminary views of the Post Office on this possibility.
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Post Office engineers who are engaged on research have some remarkable achievements to their credit? Is he further aware that Post Office engineers, as a whole, would welcome an opportunity to manufacture their own equipment and thus increase their service to the public while reducing their own frustration?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I am aware that the Post Office engineers have a very fine record of constructive work, and the views which they hold in this matter will be considered.