§ Mr. Jim Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Industry why earlier action was not taken to counteract the effect of Post Office cut-backs on the telecommunications industry in the light of warnings given by the hon. Member for Beeston and supported by the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Whitlock) on 4th November 1975, which specifically dealt with reduction of staff by Plessey and advocated constructive remedial measures which the Government are only now considering.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldOn the points made by the hon. Member, the Post Office have stepped up their marketing budget greatly in recent years, and have for some time given their Regional Directors discretion to introduce temporary local reductions in the connection charge for a new telephone. They are pressing ahead, in co-operation with the main 121W manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, with the development of System X. And the proportion of Post Office equipment orders placed overseas remains extremely small. If the hon. Member is concerned about any particular aspects of his original proposals I shall be pleased to hear from him.