§ 30. Mr. JAMES HUDSONasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received complaints from Huddersfield firms at the alteration from the no-delay telephone service, which for nearly four years has existed in a direct line between Huddersfield and Liverpool, to the present system, which compels Huddersfield callers to use the delay service to Liverpool by way of Leeds; and whether, as it is of importance that Huddersfield should be in contact with Manchester and Liverpool cotton markets and shippers without having to suffer the present average delay of 20 minutes on telephone calls to Liverpool, he will consider an immediate return to the system which the Post Office permitted in Huddersfield till the autumn of 1927?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have received letters from firms in Huddersfield on this subject. I regret that it is no longer possible to continue the exceptional service under which Huddersfield telephone subscribers could communicate with Liverpool subscribers without any period of waiting, but I can assure the hon. Member that every effort is directed to reduce delay to a minimum and I understand that the average waiting time does not exceed 10 minutes.
§ Mr. HUDSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the average delay is more than 20 minutes and it applies not only to Huddersfield but to other towns in Yorkshire, and will he take into account further the fact that Manchester and towns round Manchester get a very considerable advantage in the cotton industry as against Huddersfield traders on account of his refusal to give Huddersfield the facilities they have had for four years?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI can only say as regards the time of waiting that my information is as already stated. As regards facilities, previous facilities 1962 for a "no delay" service were an exceptional arrangement and were due to the fact that the line via Leeds was technically unsuitable for Huddersfield-Liverpool traffic. Now traffic on the Manchester lines has grown, it is impossible any longer to continue without result to the normal line via Leeds which is now entirely in order. I may add that the total traffic involved is quite small and that the Leeds line can easily accommodate it without undue delay.
§ Mr. HUDSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that those calls are extremely important and that Huddersfield and the Colne Valley are for all practical purposes part of the cotton district on account of their numerous cotton interests?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI quite appreciate that fact, and anything I can do to improve the service will be done.