§ Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Postmaster-General when he first notified the firms which make telephone equipment of his intention to carry out an increase in 98W capital investment of £900 million in the inland telephone service in the next five years.
§ Mr. BevinsIn recent years Post Office investment has been increasing steadily. It is regular practice to maintain close liaison with manufacturers about Post Office requirements in the shorter term, and in the longer term where appropriate. This made it unnecessary to give the manufacturers a specific notification of the increased programme outlined in my recent White Paper on the Telephone Service. I should add that the £900 million for the next five years, quoted in the White Paper, represents the total investment in inland telephone service, and not the increase in the present level.