§ SIR THOMAS DEWAR (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is yet in a position to say when the extension of the Post Office Telephone System throughout the metropolis and suburbs will be complete; will he state the amount expended by the Post Office up to the present time on this service, the number of subscribers, and the amount of their rentals.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E)Seven Post Office Telephone Exchanges have already been opened in London since the 1st March. These serve districts which include more than half the previous users of telephones. Four other exchanges to serve large areas are well advanced. Owing to the rapidly increasing demand for a telephone service, it is not practicable to name a date when the system can be regarded as complete. The authorised expenditure on works now in progress is in round figures £1,261,000. These works provide not only for the service of existing subscribers, but to a much greater extent 1360 for future requirements. The number of subscribers' telephones now working is 5,160, and this number is being increased by from 150 to 200 a week. The receipts in respect of the local exchange service in London up to the 15th instant were £34,473, and £1,086 was received for trunk calls made by Post Office subscribers.
§ Mk. LOUGHAre these new subscribers put into communication with the subscribers of the National Telephone Company?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir; that follows from the terms of the agreement which the House had under discussion early in the year.