HC Deb 27 March 1957 vol 567 cc1122-3
26. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of long-distance calls are dialled direct.

Mr. K. Thompson

Forty-two per cent. of long-distance calls are now dialled by the trunk operator direct to the distant subscriber. We are making plans to enable subscribers to dial trunk calls direct, and the first installation will be opened at Bristol in 1959.

Mr. Bellenger

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in Western Germany 58 per cent. of the long-distance calls are dialled direct? Does he not think that Great Britain ought to be able to do better than a country which was smashed up almost completely after the war?

Mr. Thompson

We have nothing to be ashamed of in the progress of telephone development in this country. It is my belief that the system we are at present working on and developing will be at least as good as, and in all probability far better than, anything available elsewhere.

Mr. Bellenger

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that not only in his Answer to this Question, but in other Answers he has given today, he has seemed to take too complacent a view of his duties? The figures I have quoted surely ought to show him that we are not doing as well as some of our competitors.

Mr. Thompson

I assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are by no means complacent. The rate of progress we have achieved is, I think, evidence of that fact.

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