HC Deb 20 March 1939 vol 345 cc903-4
41. Sir Alfred Beit

asked the Postmaster-General when the Victoria telephone exchange, London, will become automatic; and when the conversion of the whole Metropolitan area will be completed?

Major Tryon

The Victoria telephone exchange will, it is hoped, be converted to automatic working next May. The conversion of the London telephone system, within a radius of 10 miles from Oxford Circus, will, in accordance with the present programme, be completed by about 1944.

Sir A. Beit

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with this rate of progress, which is a great deal slower than in other countries?

Major Tryon

On the contrary, the telephone developments in this country have been better than in any other country recently.