§ MR. COURTHOPEI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in many districts the Post Office telephone service compares most 282 unfavourably with the National telephone service, owing to the fact that it is not available either to subscribers or to the public between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., nor at all on Sundays; and whether he will take steps to ensure a fuller service on the Post Office telephone system.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI am, of course, aware that, while the National Telephone Company's service is continuous, the telephone service given by the Post Office at small exchanges is in many cases confined after 8 p.m. to the hours during which staff is on duty for other purposes. The cost of special attendance all night and on Sundays would absorb a large part, if not the whole, of the revenue of very small exchanges; and, if it were regarded as essential, would render the establishment of such exchanges impracticable.
§ MR. COURTHOPEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some rural district offices where men are employed the telephone is not available either to the public or to subscribers after 8 p.m.?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONIf the hon. Gentleman will give me particulars of any such cases I will consider them. Where we have a night staff we endeavour to keep the telephone service open. Where there is no night staff we cannot do so.