asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to ensure the employment of local men in the development of the telephone service now in hand in the Ross-on-Wye postal area, in view of the fact that the contractor is importing three-fourths of the unskilled labour required?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. Of the 24 men engaged by the contractor on the work in question, 20 were obtained through the Ross Employment Exchange. The remaining four (including the foreman) are skilled men employed on special work.