§ Sir R. Russellasked the Postmaster-General which firms were behind schedule in supplying telephone equipment as at 27th February; and if he will state the reasons given by the firms for the delay, and the nature and value of each contract delayed.
§ Mr. StonehouseAll our major suppliers of exchange equipment are behind schedule because of the difficulty of suddenly increasing a balanced output of this very complex plant; but they have more than doubled their output in two years, and delays are now starting to diminish. It would be contrary to established practice to give details of individual contracts.