§ Mr. REMERasked the Postmaster-General whether he will press forward with the building of the new post office in Macclesfield at once, instead of in 1924 as previously decided, with the object of helping the unemployed persons in that borough; and whether he is aware that in all probability this building will place no cost on the Exchequer owing to the sale of the old site?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe building proposals for the proposed new post office and telephone exchange at Macclesfield have not yet been definitely formulated; the site which it is hoped to use for the purpose has not yet been purchased; and there are many other building schemes which must take precedence over the Macclesfield scheme on the score of urgency. In these circumstances it is quite impossible to make provision for this scheme in the Estimates for next year. The hon. Member's estimate of the sum to be realised by the sale of the old post office is, I fear, unduly optimistic.