§ MR. DUNN (Cornwall, Camborne)To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the delays that are constantly occurring in trunk telephone calls from London to Exeter, Plymouth, and other places in the West of England; that, quite apart from special delays, it often takes two or more hours to get calls through; that the reason given by the authorities is the absence of a direct line beyond Bristol; and whether prompt steps will be taken to provide a direct line or in some other way to put an end to the existing state of affairs.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) A trunk telephone circuit between London and Exeter is in course of construction, in order to provide a more direct means of communication between London and the Devonshire and Cornish towns than at present exists. The delay is, however, not so much due to the want of this direct line as to the non-completion, owing to the difficulties of obtaining wayleaves, of a trunk circuit between London and Bristol which was commenced two years ago. The work is now, however, being pushed on. The delay does not, as a rule, exceed an hour and, pending the completion of the new circuits, every endeavour is being made to give as good a service as possible.