§ MR. NIELD (Middlesex, Ealing)To ask the Postmaster-General whether any steps have yet been taken to establish a Post Office telephone exchange at East Finchley or Finchley (Church End); when it is likely that the exchange will be ready for work; and will he consider the advisability of admitting intending subscribers, pending the completion of an exchange at Finchley, to the systems of neighbouring exchanges at the ordinary rates current.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.} Plans were prepared some time ago for the extension of the telephone service to Finchley, and the establishment of an exchange at Church End will be proceeded with as soon as the necessary way leave consents have been received from the district council. I fear that it will not be possible, pending the establishment of the exchange, to give residents at Finchley circuits to another exchange at ordinary rates; but I propose to open public call offices in the district at an early date, and these will I hope tend to minimise the inconvenience until the exchange is ready.