§ Mr. BOWENasked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the number of Crown post offices provided with the assistance of and maintained by the Office of Works; and the number of Crown offices provided and maintained without the intervention of the Office of Works;
(2) what additional sum is being spent during the current year on the programme of improved maintenance and equipment of post offices; and whether, in view of the need to find useful employment for men and women now unemployed, he is satisfied that everything possible has been done to accelerate and extend justifiable constructional and maintenance work on post office buildings?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe number of Crown post offices provided and maintained by the Office of Works is 788. Those provided and maintained without the intervention of the Board is 733. The amount that it is estimated will be spent on the programme of improved maintenance and equipment of post offices during this financial year is £68,000, and whilst every effort will be made to adhere to this programme, I fear that it is impracticable materially to improve on the number of schemes that can be put in hand during the period in question.
§ Mr. BOWENasked the Postmaster-General what is the total estimated ex- 1506W penditure during the current year on new postal, telegraph and telephone buildings, respectively?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe total expenditure that will be incurred during the current financial year on new and enlarged postal, telegraph and telephone buildings is estimated at approximately £1,450,000, but at this stage it is impracticable to sub-divide this total between postal, telegraph and telephone buildings as many of the schemes include accommodation for all three services.