§ Mr. Higginsasked the Postmaster-General if he will specify the capacity of existing Post Office computers which it is intended to employ in the Government's proposed computer service, the current capacity utilisation of each, and the breakdown of overhead and variable costs incurred on each at zero, 25 per cent., 50 per cent., 75 per cent., and 100 per cent. utlisation of capacity.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe Post Office has six large modern computers in operation and a seventh will be added within the next few weeks. These are all suitable for the proposed computer service. The loading of computers is a continuous process and the total load is redeployed between machines as required. The total load is currently about 50 per cent. and increasing. Overhead costs are apportioned between the uses to which each computer is put on a time basis and variable costs charged to the uses which give rise to them. The breakdown of these costs therefore varies according to the particular uses to which each computer is being put at the time.