HC Deb 11 February 1948 vol 447 cc356-7
15. Commander Noble

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total number of officers and men, respectively, in the permanent R.N.V.R. on the 1st January, 1938, 1st January, 1939, and at the present time.

Mr. Dugdale

As the answer includes a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Commander Noble

When giving the figures, would the Minister distinguish between List 1 and List 2?

Mr. Dugdale

If possible, yes.

Following is the answer:

of public call boxes in the London area which are out of order daily; and what staff are employed on their repair and maintenance.

The Postmaster-General (Mr. Wilfred Paling)

On average, 690 of the 10,800 public call boxes in the London area are out of order at any given time—i.e. about in 16. A staff of 760 attends to all telephones in the area and averages 14 public telephone call boxes per man.

Commander Noble

In view of the large number of people waiting for telephones, as the Minister himself told us the other day, is he aware that public call boxes have become more important than before?

Mr. Paling

I quite agree, and we are putting on increased staff in order to attend to it, but I am sorry to say that some of this damage is malicious.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Could my right hon. Friend give the House any idea of the proportion that is due to malicious damage by members of the public, and is he satisfied that sufficient police protection is provided in the interests of the service and of the community?

Mr. Paling

I am afraid I cannot answer that question without notice.