§ 63. Major CARVERasked the Postmaster-General whether he has been able to devise any cheaper means of providing a telephone service to outlying districts, such as the villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where it is not possible to obtain a local guarantee towards the cost of the service; whether he has examined the practicability of putting such work out to contract, as promised in his reply to the hon. Member for Abingdon on the 15th December last; and, if with what result?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Viscount Wolmer)The Postmaster-General has not yet completed his promised inquiries regarding this matter.
Captain CROOKSHANKDoes not the Noble Lord consider it ridiculous that, now that we can telephone to the United States, there are many villages, not only in the East Riding but also in Lincolnshire, which cannot secure telephone facilities?
§ Viscount WOLMERAny village that is willing to pay £15 for a single call would get a telephone very quickly.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs the Noble Lord aware that the Postmaster-General just asked a village in Lincolnshi to pay £45?
§ Viscount WOLMERNot for a single call.
Mr. R. SMITHWill the Noble Lord ask the Postmaster-General to press on with an inquiry for the West Riding of Yorkshire as well?