§ 8. Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Postmaster-General what are the numbers of telephones at present installed in Government Departments, in industrial premises, commercial premises, and private residences, as compared with the end of 1945.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsStatistics are not available in the precise form required by the hon. Member, but I hope that the following information will meet his requirements: At 31st March, 1946, there were 86,300 telephone exchange lines serving Government Departments and by 31st December, 1949, the number had been reduced to 44,000. In the same period, the number of lines to business premises had increased from 973,000 to 1,379,000, and those to private residences from 1,189,000 to 1,511,000.
§ Mr. MorrisonDoes not the Minister think that he could usefully reduce still further some of the Government telephones and supply them to businesses and productive enterprise?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsA cut of 50 per cent. in so short a time reflects credit on the Post Office, but we will watch the position as carefully as we can.
§ Mr. Peter RobertsWill the Minister say into which category the National Coal Board comes, a Department or a business?
§ Sir H. WilliamsNeither.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI would like to see the question put by the hon. Member for Heeley (Mr. P. Roberts) on the Order Paper.