HC Deb 05 May 1964 vol 694 cc140-2W
Mr. Mason

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish a list of the firms to which he allocated contracts in 1963–64 for cable, loading coils, telephone apparatus and exchange equipment, respectively; and what was the value of the respective contracts with the respective firms.

Mr. Mawby

The list below shows the value of contracts exceeding £1,000 for items covered by the telephone apparatus and exchange equipment bulk supply agreements its and for the types of cable and loading coils formerly covered by bulk supply agreements. In order not to disclose the results of competitive tendering, the value of the contracts placed under the reservation clauses is shown in terms of the agreement prices rather than prices actually paid.

£'000
Cable
Telephone Cables Ltd. 3,949
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. 2,532
British Insulated Callender's Cables Ltd. 2,396
Pirelli-General Cable Works Ltd. 1,390
Connollys (Blackley) Ltd. 780
Hackbridge Cable Co. Ltd. 576
Loading Coils
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. 226
Salford Electric Instruments Ltd. 199
Associated Electrical Industries Ltd. 129
Telephone Apparatus
The General Electric Co. Ltd. 1,649
The Plessey Co. (U.K.) Ltd. 1,532
Automatic Telephone and Electric Co. Ltd. 1,478
Phoenix Telephone Ltd. 1,475
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. 1,460
Associated Electrical Industries Ltd. 1,435
Telephone Manufacturing Co. Ltd. 1,332
Ericsson Telephones Ltd. 1,070
Pye Telecommunications Ltd. 894
Associated Automation Ltd. 501
EMI Electronics Ltd. 394
Whiteley Electrical Radio Co. Ltd. 176
The Telephone Supplies Ltd. 161
S. Smith & Sons (England) Ltd. 112
Airdrie Electronics Ltd. 50
Astralux Ltd. 43
Speke Telephones Ltd. 12
Burgess Products Ltd. 10
Labgear Ltd. 4
Exchange Equipment
The General Electric Co. Ltd. 6,199
Ericsson Telephones Ltd. 5,940
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. 5,906
Automatic Telephone and Electric Co. Ltd. 5,236
Associated Electrical Industries Ltd. 4,274
Kolster-Brandes (N. Ireland) Ltd. 181
Telephone Manufacturing Co. Ltd. 114
Speke Telephones Ltd. 20
Fraser and Grass Ltd. 4
Litholite Insulators Ltd. 3

Mr. Mason

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the light of the Public Accounts Committee's Report on Guided Weapons Contracts placed by the Ministry of Aviation with Ferranti Ltd., he is still satisfied that the method of fixing prices under the bulk purchase agreements is in the best interests of the Post Office; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Mawby

The bulk supply agreements differ widely, as regards the method of fixing prices, from the purchasing arrangements which formed the subject of the Committee's Report. My right hon. Friend has no present plans for any change.