36. Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYasked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to expend £9,500,000 during the current financial year on the development and extension of the telephone system in Great Britain; and, if so, can he say what proportion of this sum will be devoted to extending and improving telephonic facilities in rural agricultural areas?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)The answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative. The amount of monye spent on rural extensions will depend upon the extent to which the con- 1997 cessions in respect of charges which were announced on Thursday last meet with response from rural residents. I am hopeful that, with the liberal terms now offered, great extensions of the telephone service will take place in rural as well as urban areas.
40. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Postmaster-General when the extension of the telephone service is likely to be made from Middlesbrough to the neighbouring villages of Marton and Nunthorpe, for which application was made over eight years ago by professional and business people resident in these villages who have businesses in Middlesbrough?
§ Mr. PEASEI hope an exchange will be opened at Marton about six months hence. The original scheme was for a manual exchange, but the cost of providing accommodation was prohibitive, and it was decided to instal an automatic exchange. A site is being acquired, and a building will have to be erected. I much regret the delay that has taken place, but unexpected obstacles have been encountered.
44. Sir DOUGLAS NEWTONasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the admitted necessity of increasing telephone facilities in rural areas, he will allow individual farmers to establish their own telephone connection with the nearest exchanges in cases where the farmer is prepared to shoulder full responsibility in respect of the maintenance of the line and instrument?
§ Mr. PEASEThe concessions announced last Thursday enable me to quote in most cases much more favourable terms for exchange lines than has been possible of recent years. I would, however, give careful consideration to an arrangement of the nature suggested in any cases where it is reasonably workable and where the Post Office cannot carry out an extension except at abnormal cost.