§ 26. Mr. VIANTasked the Postmaster-General the number of hours worked in 1318 excess of the normal working week by the telephone engineers in the districts of Staines, Shepperton and Hampton during the years 1934, 1935 and 1936; and to what extent has the installation of telephones been increased in these areas during the same period?
§ Major TRYONI regret that it is not practicable, without a large amount of extra labour, to give the exact information desired, as the districts mentioned do not form units in the organisation of the London Engineering Area. The number of hours overtime worked in the western part of that area of which these districts form only a small part, during the years mentioned, was 113,005 in 1934, 152,079 in 1935 and 262,684 in 1936. The districts referred to by the hon. Member correspond approximately to the telephone exchange areas of Staines, Walton and Molesey. During 1934, the number of telephone stations in these exchange areas increased, by 446, from 4,908 to 5,354; during 1935 there was a further increase of 525; and the increase during the first nine months of the current year was 453.