HC Deb 30 January 1962 vol 652 cc882-3
18. Mr. John Hall

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements can be made to enable a subscriber on an automatic exchange, which depends on a manual exchange for non-local calls, to make an emergency call.

Miss Pike

Subscribers on many of these exchanges can dial 999. But there are other exchanges where it is not possible to give this service, and subscribers have to dial O to get an operator who then gives priority to emergency calls. The number of such cases is steadily decreasing as manual exchanges become automatic.

Mr. Hall

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in my constituency there are a number of exchanges which depend on the manual exchange at High Wycombe and that it is by no means a rare experience to have to wait between 10 and 20 minutes for an answer from the operator? In the case of emergency calls this is far too long. Can something be done to help?

Miss Pike

We recognise that the service at High Wycombe is not all that we would wish. We are making plans to provide more positions so that the calls may be dealt with more quickly. High Wycombe will become automatic early in 1966 and until then we shall do everything we can.

Mr. Hall

Did I hear my hon. Friend aright? Did I hear her say that the High Wycombe exchange would become automatic in 1966. Is not this deplorable? Cannot she hasten it?

Miss Pike

The hon. Gentleman knows that there are many manual exchanges in the High Wycombe area. It will become fully automatic by 1966. If we can do better, we certainly will do.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind that this problem is not confined to High Wycombe but exists all over the country, and that at a time when there is a power cut, or something exceptional, ordinary subscribers cannot get through to the exchanges at all because they are blocked with emergency calls? Is she aware that that presents a very real problem?

Miss Pike

I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate that the capital investment in telephones is higher than ever before. We are at present pressing on with plans for a fully automatic telephone system in this country.