§ 100. Colonel DAYasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the complaints being made by residents in the Richmond, Surrey, area, who have been waiting in many cases for nearly six months for telephone installation; and what steps are being taken to deal with the inconvenience so caused?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir William Mitchell-Thomson)The position at Richmond, Surrey, of which I am fully aware, has arisen through the exhaustion of underground plant following a sudden and unexpectedly large demand for telephone service in that district. An extensive development scheme at an estimated cost of £20,000 is in hand, but progress with the duct work has necessarily been governed largely by the requirements of the road authorities. The work is now approaching completion and, should no unforeseen difficulties occur, all applications for service will be met early in the New Year, and thereafter further applications should foe met without difficulty.
105. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND TROYTEasked the Postmaster-General how much of the sum, averaging £1,000,000 a month, which was voted last July for telephone development, has been expended; and what proportion of this amount has been expended in rural areas?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONAs there was an unexhausted balance from the previous Act, it has not yet been necessary to draw upon the capital authorised by the Telegraph (Money) Act, 1925. Approximately £1,000,000 a month is being spent upon telephone development, but it is impracticable to furnish an analysis of this expenditure between rural and other areas.
§ 106. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Postmaster-General whether he has any definite scheme for the expenditure of the sum granted last July for telephone development; and whether he has placed orders for equipment well in advance so that the manufacturers can keep their men steadily employed?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThere is a definite scheme for the expenditure of the bulk of the money authorised 1200 by the Telegraph (Money) Act, 1925. Orders for telephone equipment are necessarily placed in advance owing to the time occupied in manufacture and subsequent installation in exchange premises; speaking generally, telephone manufacturers in this country are able to keep their staffs steadily employed.
§ 107. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is great delay and difficulty in obtaining new telephone facilities in the Exeter district; and whether, in view of the loss and inconvenience caused to traders and others, he will take steps to improve the efficiency of the service in this area, especially in the rural districts?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThere have been one or two instances in the Exeter district where, on account of difficulty in obtaining suitable premises, or for other reasons, the opening of a new rural exchange has been delayed, but otherwise I am not aware of any abnormal delay or difficulty in obtaining telephone facilities in that district. If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with definite particulars of any case which he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.