§ 42. Mr. Marplesasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the average time taken at Putney telephone exchange to obtain a local call; and what is the average time over the whole of the London telephone service.
§ Mr. BurkeThe average time taken at Putney telephone exchange to obtain a call to a subscriber in the London area is 55.4 seconds as compared with 55.2 seconds for all London manual exchanges.
§ Mr. MarplesThe hon. Gentleman says "London manual exchanges." Could he give us a comparison with the London automatic exchanges?
§ Mr. BurkeUnfortunately the contrast between the automatic and manual exchanges is too frequently made without consideration, It is because manual exchanges compare so unfavourably with automatic exchanges that we have so many complaints.
§ Mr. LinsteadIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this exchange has been scheduled by his Department for transfer to automatic working? Can he give any indication when that transfer is likely to take place?
§ Mr. BurkeIt is our intention to transfer all the manual exchanges to automatic working but it is a question of building, and as the hon. Member probably knows, that is one of the difficulties we have, like other Departments.
§ Mr. MarplesIs the hon. Gentleman aware not only of the difficulties of getting calls to and from Putney, but that conversations—conversations of both sexes—are overhead, which is a source of considerable embarrassment?