§ 8. Mr. Shepherdasked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied that the new telephone is sufficiently robust for general working conditions; and if he will indicate the rate of damage suffered by new instruments as compared with the old.
§ Mr. BevinsDamage to telephones is quite small, but the rate of damage for the new type has been about double that for others because, being lighter, it is less stable. Rubber feet of a new kind have now been developed to give a better grip on polished surfaces, and a lighter and more flexible cord is being used. We are also trying out new types of plastic which may prove more robust than those previously available.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs my right hon. Friend aware that the new phone is defective, too, in the sense that the cord coming 1120 across the receiver rest will cut off a subscriber when he does not want to be cut off?
§ Mr. BevinsI am aware of that defect, and we are in process of putting it right now.