§ 18. Sir C. Osborneasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the delays in getting trunk calls through to the Grimsby area; if he will see that more lines are made available in the near future; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BennThe general quality of trunk service in the Grimsby Area is good. But if the hon. Gentleman has any particular difficulties in mind, and will let me know details, I will make inquiries. There is no shortage of lines.
§ Sir C. OsborneIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has been misinformed about this matter? In all friendliness, may I ask him why during the last 12 months all postal services, letter delivery and telephones, seem to 145 have deteriorated so much? Whose fault is it?
§ Mr. BennThe latter question goes beyond that on the Order Paper. If the hon. Gentleman thinks that I have been misinformed, he will be pleased that I have invited him to write to me on this matter. The information available to me is that three out of the eight circuits between Grimsby and Leicester came out of action as a result of a fault on 30th September and were corrected on the same day, while engineering work took place at Leicester last month and has now been completed. The director of this region has not reported general complaints about this, which is why I have invited the hon. Gentleman's view.