asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with interested parties concerning the connection of privately-owned equipment to the Post Office system.

Discussions are not yet complete.

I realise that my Question may be somewhat premature. May I ask the Postmaster-General, however, whether the aim of these discussions is to investigate the desirability of allowing a wider range of efficient privately-owned equipment to be connected to the public system?

Before the discussions are concluded it would be a mistake to anticipate the decisions which we will arrive at.