§ 72. Mr. WHELERasked when the telephonic connection between the coastguard station at Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey, and Sheerness will be complete?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAbout the 15th January.
§ Mr. WHELERDid not the right hon. Gentleman say some time ago that the work was to be completed at once, yet during the last two months only one man has been to look at the work, and nothing has been done at all; and does he know that in the case of danger at sea on that coast the coastguard has to set out on a bicycle some three and a-half miles to get into communication with Sheerness?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELMy recollection is that there were wayleave difficulties in this case, and that we could not get the right to get through to the place we wanted to reach. Therefore it was impossible to get on with the work.
§ Mr. WHELERDid not the right hon. Gentleman tell me that the work would be done at once?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI do not know that I said the work would be done at once. My recollection is that I said the work would be taken in hand immediately. It was taken in hand, and if it is the case I have in my mind, I have lately received a report that the wayleave difficulties have all been overcome.
§ 75. Mr. FREDERICK WHYTEasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received representations from town councils and other public bodies in Scotland on the subject of the increased rates to be charged by his Department to them for the use of telephones; and whether he is prepared to reconsider the question with a view to renewing the privileges granted by the National Telephone Company to municipal and other public bodies in Scotland?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Worcestershire on the 14th of May last.