§ 55. Sir J. D. REESasked whether it is necessary that a mass of printed matter should be perused and accepted and signed as an agreement by any person desirous of being connected with the Government telephones; why subscribers living within 10 miles of London who subscribe for the 1184 purpose of being connected with London can only have trunk calls with London; and whether this renders useless or greatly impairs the value of the telephone service around London, and when trunk calls will be charged at the cheaper rates available on the Continent?
§ Captain NORTONAs there are obligations on both sides it is necessary that a formal agreement should be entered into by any person desirous of obtaining telephone service, and it is convenient that all the important conditions of the service should be printed with the agreement form. The terms of contract have been modified from time to time, and my right hon. Friend is always willing to consider suggestions for their amendment or simplification. The question of the charges to be made in future for trunk telephone calls is now receiving consideration. The hon. Member is, however, under a misapprehension in supposing that calls made by subscribers to exchanges within 10 miles of the centre of London are trunk calls.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs the information supplied by the district head in St. Albans erroneous when he treats calls to the centre of London as trunk calls?
§ Captain NORTONI shall have to have notice of that question.
An HON. MEMBERAre we to understand that the trunk system will be replaced by the zone system? Has the zone system been under consideration for two years, and how soon are we likely to have the result?
§ Captain NORTONThat matter has not yet been decided.