asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the amount of money expended on the improvement, development and conversion to automatic working of the telephone system in each of the years beginning on 1st April, 1960, and ending on 31st March, 1970; and the number employed by the Engineering Branch for this work in each of the stated years.

The annual amounts expended and the numbers of Engineering Branch staff employed in the period between 1st April, 1960, and 31st March, 1970, are given in the table below. Since many Engineering Branch staff may be engaged on both capital and non-capital works, the figures for employment content given in the statement are estimated.

I understand that the leaders of the parties will now make short statements.

Before or after the Order of Business?

Before the Order of Business.