HC Deb 31 October 1946 vol 428 cc761-3
13. Mr. Erroll

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will state the number of trunk telephone circuits at present allotted exclusively to Service Departments and the number allotted exclusively to all other Government Departments, together with the number now available for the general public.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Burke)

There are approximately 2,700 telephone circuits over 25 miles in length allocated for use of the three Services, and 700 in use by other Government Departments and the B.B.C. 12,850 circuits over 25 miles in length are available for public service.

Mr. Erroll

Is it not deplorable that nearly a quarter of the total trunk circuits available are reserved for the use of Government Departments? Apart from the doubtful need for a few security circuits, could not the Government Departments take their turn in the queue at the switchboard just like the public?

Mr. Burke

We are taking them over from the Government Departments, with their cooperation, as fast as we can make use of them. Since the hon. Gentleman put down his Question two months ago, 600 circuits have been added to the public service.

14. Captain John Crowder

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why applicants for a telephone are asked for a remittance to cover the rent and cost of installing the telephone many months before the instrument is actually installed.

Mr. Burke

The normal practice is to despatch the first account after installation of service. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any case he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.

Captain Crowder

Is the Minister aware that I have a letter here from the North area office asking the applicant for a remittance of 31s. last July, and the telephone has not yet been installed? If, therefore, that practice is being carried on with numerous applicants, the Post Office must have half a million pounds, or three-quarters of a million pounds, in hand without paying interest, so will he look into it?

Mr. Burke

That is not the normal practice, though there may be reasons why, in certain cases, we have to ask for the money in advance.

16. Mr. Glossop

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why telephone accounts are still rendered six months in arrear; and whether he is now able to revert to the prewar practice of rendering accounts quarterly.

Mr. Burke

Telephone accounts are still rendered at six-monthly intervals because the additional trained staff and office machinery required for quarterly accounts are not yet available. The transition back to quarterly accounts will be spread over a period of six months and I confidently expect that it will be started during the course of next year.

18. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when it is proposed to convert the Enfield telephone exchange from manual to automatic operation.

Mr. Burke

Conversion of the Enfield exchange to automatic working is dependent on a major extension of the building and it is proposed to start this work in 1948.

Mr. Davies

While thanking the Minister for his encouraging reply may I ask him whether, when this conversion takes place, in view of the fact that there are five exchanges serving Enfield, of which one at least is a toll exchange, it will bring the toll subscribers on to the Enfield exchange?

Mr. Burke

I cannot say whether that will be possible, but there is spare accommodation on the Enfield exchange yet, and we will put the automatic exchange into operation as soon as that capacity has been used up.

20. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of residents in the urban district of Enfield who are connected to the Howard, Enfield and Waltham Cross telephone exchanges.

Mr. Burke

Precise figures are not readily obtainable, but the approximate numbers of residents in the urban district of Enfield connected to the Howard, Enfield, and Waltham Cross telephone exchanges are 300, 3,100 and 8o respectively.