HC Deb 13 March 1928 vol 214 cc1716-7
54. Mr. KELLY

asked the Postmaster-General the amount and length of cable work which in 1921 was placed underground under the scheme of transferring overhead telephone wires to underground, and the amount which was undertaken in 1927?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THONISON

The value and single-wire length of the main trunk telephone cables laid underground in the year 1927 were, respectively, £349,000 and 41,000 miles. The corresponding figures for 1921 were £1,347,000 and 154,500 miles.

Mr. KELLY

Is there any intention on the part of the right hon. Gentleman to increase that amount, in order to have more of these lines underground?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

No; as I told the hon. Member the other day, we are extending the underground lines. He will realise, of course, that the figures for 1921 included several years of Wartime arrears.