§ 75. Mr. ALBERYasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the facts that Great Britain and Northern Ireland have 26 telephones in service per 1,000 inhabitants as against 142 per 1,000 in the United States, and that 11 countries have in use more telephones per 1,000 inhabitants than this country, if he will state what means he is taking to increase telephone efficiency in this country?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Edge Hill on the 3rd instant. Telephones are at present being installed at the rate of over 17,000 a month.
§ 77. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that if a telephone in London 1107 breaks down on a Saturday the subscriber is informed that it cannot be attended to until Monday; and will he arrange to obviate such delay?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am aware that faults occurring on telephone circuits during week-ends do not receive attention until Monday except in cases of fire alarm, police, hospital and other circuits where it is in the public interest that service should be restored at once. A general extension of the existing emergency arrangements would involve a very heavy additional expenditure which would not be justified.