SIR THOMAS DEWAE (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the proposed acquisition of the National Telephone Company's undertaking by the Government, he can see his way to suggest to the company the expediency of insulating their telephone cables in a manner most likely to minimise the risk of fires such as those which occurred recently on the company's premises at Cannon Street and Queen Victoria Street; and will he say whether steps are taken to secure that Post Office cables are satisfactorily protected against the risk of contact with electrically charged conductors.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) I am assured by the National Telephone Company that they are fully alive to the necessity of adopting all proper precautions for the protection of their exchanges from fires of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member. The question is one that has engaged the close attention of my Department, and all possible means 46 are taken to guard the Post Office system.