HC Deb 10 May 1927 vol 206 cc195-6
25. Colonel DAY

asked the Postmaster-General the average daily number of telephone calls passing between Paris and London for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and what is the average delay in these telephone calls between 10 a.m. and noon?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir William Mitchell-Thomson)

Seven hundred and eighty-two calls daily (during the 12 months ended 31st March last), with an average delay between 10 a.m. and noon of about one hour.

Colonel DAY

Is it not, a fact that more circuits are necessary to obviate the great delays which take place?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

More circuits are being provided. There are at the present moment, I think, 18 circuits, and a new cable containing 21 circuits has been laid down, and the connections ought to be completed in a few days.

Colonel DAY

What is the reason for the delay between two o'clock and four o'clock?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I could not say without notice.