27. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Postmaster-General, whether he will give special attention to the overhaul and maintenance of the equipment at the Victoria telephone exchange, in view of the number of misroutings and no pick-up calls in recent weeks.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterYes, Sir. The equipment is being overhauled and the service should improve.
Mr. Gresham CookePerhaps it is in order for me to put a supplementary question. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that on one morning this week I got three misroutings and three no-tone calls in a quarter of an hour? Is he aware that the Victoria Exchange has been going rapidly downhill ever since the Labour Government came to power, and what is he going to do about it?
§ Mr. SlaterMay I say to the hon. Gentleman that the weather has not been very good either? The automatic service given by the Victoria Exchange has been unsatisfactory in recent months, so that we may go beyond the period since the Labour Government came into power. About 5 per cent. of dialled calls have been failing, largely as a result of a no-tone or number unobtainable condition. A special investigation into the exchange equipment commenced in August and is still proceeding. Certain parts of the equipment are being reviewed and an improvement in the service is expected in the very near future.