§ 34. Mr. FENBYasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the time and trouble saved to business and other people by the installation of automatic telephones, he will give the following particulars: what automatic telephone exchanges are now actually in operation; what exchanges will go over to automatic telephones this year; what exchanges will go over to automatic telephones next year; and how many exchanges in all have now been scheduled for future alteration over to the automatic method?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe total number of automatic telephone exchanges already working is 69, comprising nearly 90,000 subscribers' lines. It is hoped to open 34 additional exchanges by the end of this year, about 40 more during 1928 and upwards of 200 more are already scheduled for conversion to automatic working in succeeding years.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman give us the difference in the figures as between the provinces and the Metropolitan area?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThere are no automatic exchanges working in the Metropolitan area.