§ 81. Sir R. COOPERasked the Postmaster-General whether there will be any material delay in the provision of telephones in cases where it is shown that reconstructed businesses urgently require this service for the daily conduct of their trade?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Illingworth)Where spare line and exchange plant is available, no serious delay should occur. Unfortunately, there are many districts in which—owing to the enforced suspension of construction work during the War—the spare underground wires and exchange plant are exhausted r and some time must elapse before the new 1397 works required for the extension of the telephone system in those areas can be completed?
§ Sir R. COOPERDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the importance of trying to give the most rapid facilities to reconstruct businesses?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHYes, most certainly I do, and I am doing everything possible to do so.
Captain TERRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it takes five months to get a new instrument installed in London to-day?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHOh, no, there may be one or two cases where the lines may be exhausted or where there is no room on a switch board, making it necessary to make a new switch-board. If the hon. and gallant Member will let me know of any particular case, I will inquire into it.