§ 63. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General which London telephone exchanges the records of observations were made resulting in the discovery that on the average only one call in every 160, approximately, was cut off during the course of conversation; whether the above average includes the occasions upon which subscribers have been cut off twice or three times in the course of the same conversation; and whether any record is kept of the number of occasions upon which a subscriber is given a wrong number?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe observations extended over all the principal exchanges in the London area. The figure of one in 160 includes cases where a subscriber was cut off more than once in the course of the same conversation. A record is kept of cases in which a wrong number is connected. Out of a large number of calls observed in London during a recent six months a wrong number was connected 3.8 times in 100 calls, including cases in which the caller asked for a wrong number.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWould it be helpful to the right hon. Gentleman to receive other records from time to time on the 832 subject, even although they may not be so optimistic as those of the Post Office statistics?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHYes, I shall be pleased to have them.