§ 48. Mr. Carrasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the amount being spent in the current year on the mechanisation of Post Office work; and how this compares with the amounts spent in the two previous years.
§ Mr. GammansIt is expected that a sum of the order of £4 million will be spent on the mechanisation of Post Office work, including telecommunications, during the current financial year: the comparable figure for the year 1950–51 was just over £1¾ million and for 1951–52 about £2½ million.
§ 49. Mr. Carrasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many machines have now been installed in post offices for printing and issuing postal orders; whether these machines are proving successful in increasing efficiency; and what plans exist for extending their use.
§ Mr. GammansFive machines are now in use experimentally. Four of them were installed as recently as August this year. It is too early to say whether use of the machines is likely to be of real benefit and a much longer trial will be necessary before there can be any question of extending their use, especially as they are rather expensive.
§ 50. Mr. Carrasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether manufacturers of office and similar machinery have been invited to make a close study of Post Office needs and methods with a view to increasing the degree of mechanisation in Post Office operations.
§ Mr. GammansYes. It is the established policy of the Post Office to seek advice from manufacturers of office and similar machinery whenever it seems likely that their special experience will be of help. As an example, some 200 machines of different designs are at the moment under trial at various post office counters—all products of consultation with manufacturers.