§ 20. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet in a position to offer telephone subscribers on the Lee Green Exchange a better service.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingI am pleased to say that our records show a marked improvement in the service at Lee Green exchange during the last six months.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonCan my right hon. Friend explain why this service, even compared with that of other exchanges in the neighbourhood, is so appallingly bad, and why something more effective has not been done two years after the war has ended?
§ Mr. PalingI think this is one of the few manual exchanges still left. If it had not been for the war, it might have been replaced before now, but the war stopped a great many of these things. I might also say that there has been great trouble in getting telephonists, and, at this time last year, the number of people leaving was about 50 per cent. That meant that we always had to take a number of untrained people into the exchanges, but it is much better now, and I am glad to say they are being replaced.
§ Mr. H. HyndIs my right hon. Friend aware that the service at Lee Green Exchange cannot possibly be any worse than that at Clissold?
§ Mr. BerryIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Lee Green Exchange shares with Greenwich and Tideway the unenviable reputation of being the worst in London?
§ Mr. PalingI have said that this is one of the few manual exchanges still left.