Mr. ALAN SYKESasked the Postmaster-General whether all the exchanges opened and operated by the National Telephone Company were open continuously, night and day, Sundays included; whether any exchanges opened by the Post Office are not continuously opened but are closed when the post office where they may be 2228W located is closed for postal business, which generally includes the night hours and most of Sunday; how many exchanges are not open continuously; whether he proposes to continue this system of installing telephones which will only be open during post office hours; and what distinction, if any, does he make in the charges for this limited service and for the whole-time service?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe exchanges of the National Telephone Company were all open continuously, and are still so kept open. At post office exchanges also, it is the rule to give continuous service, but in the case very small exchanges with less than twenty subscribers an increased charge is made if continuous service is desired. This additional charge does not generally exceed £l a year per subscriber.