§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the renewed breakdown of the Shetland cable between Aberdeen and Lerwick which ceased working over a week ago; if he is aware that this cable was laid down by a private company over forty years ago; and whether, seeing that these constant breakdowns are inflicting losses on the herring-fishing industry in the North of Scotland, the business transactions of which are necessarily largely carried on through cablegrams and which is at its height at the present moment, he will see to the immediate repair of this cable, and also take steps to provide him with a little delay as possible for a new cable with a larger number of wires than the existing one.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) My attention has been drawn to this unfortunate occurrence. The cable was laid by the Post Office twenty-three years ago. A ship has been sent to repair the cable, and in the meantime I am glad to say that my engineers have been able to arrange for more rapid working on the remaining cable. The question of laying a new cable or of establishing a wireless service is under consideration.