HC Deb 13 March 1933 vol 275 c1605
36. Mr. McENTEE

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephonists employed in London and the provinces, respectively, in-1931 and 1932?

The POSTMASTER - GENERAL (Sir Kingsley Wood)

The numbers of established telephonists, men and women, employed on the 31st December, 1931 and 1932, respectively, in London and the Provinces, were:

London … … 8,820 8,247
Provinces … … 9,521 9,157

Mr. McENTEE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the reduction is due to the introduction of automatic telephones?

Sir K. WOOD

I stated some weeks ago that I anticipated that it would be possible to absorb in other exchanges the staff rendered redundant as a result of the conversion to automatic working, and I understand that this generally has been followed. As regards 280 of the telephonists in 1931, they were regraded as telegraphists in 1932.

Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLE

Should not the right hon. Gentleman pronounce the word "telephonist" and not "telephonist"?

Sir K. WOOD

No, Sir.