§ MR. GORDON (Londonderry, S.)To ask the Postmaster-General if he can state what progress has been made towards establishing telephonic communication between Ballymena and Londonderry with branch lines to Coleraine and Limavady; and when the construction of such system will be commenced.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The Post Office trunk wire system has been extended from Belfast to Ballymena, and exchanges have been opened at Antrim, Ballymena, and Kells. I hope to be able to arrange for a further extension to serve Coleraine, Limavady, and Londonderry, when additional funds are available for the development of the Post Office telephone system. A Bill to authorise further capital expenditure for this purpose will be presented to this House at an early date.