HC Deb 04 December 1928 vol 223 cc1044-6W
Mr. MARDY JONES

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total number of rural villages in England and Wales with a population of 300 to 500 and with 500 to 1,000 that have not been provided with a public telephone service; what is the total number of rural towns and villages within each of these two categories that have been provided with a public telephone service; and in how many of the latter category a charge of 2d. is made for telephoning each telegraphic message to the nearest telegraph office?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I regret that information in the form desired by the hon. Member is not available, and could only be obtained by very great labour and outlay. The total number of rural public call offices in England and Wales is approximately 6,500.

Mr. JONES

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the lack of a public telephone service in the growing village of Llanharry, in Glamorgan, which already has a population of over 500; and will he make provision for a public telephone in the said village at an early date?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

A public telephone call office already exists at Llanharry.

Mr. JONES

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will, at an early date, permit the free transmission of telegraphic messages from rural villages having a public telephone service to the nearest telegraph office; and whether he has received any representations from rural district and parish councils pointing out the burden placed upon the rural population of Great Britain in having to pay a charge of 2d. for telephoning a telegraphic message to the nearest telegraph office?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

Representations on this subject have been received from a few rural councils; but I can see no good reason for waiving the call office fee on a telegram dictated from a rural call office. The burden to which the hon. Member refers is small one compared with the burden falling upon the Post Office in the provision of unremunerative telegraph facilities in rural districts.

Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGE

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the names of the villages in the rural districts of Caistor, Grimsby and Louth which have public telephone facilities?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

The villages in the Parliamentary County Division of Grimsby, Caistor and Louth with public telephone call office facilities are as follow:

Humberstone. Binbrook.
Tetney. Grainthorpe.
Immingham. Habrough.
Healing. Stallingborough.
Kealby. Caistor.
Laceby. Holton-le-Moor.
Waltham. Grasby.
Fulstow. North Kelsey.
Ludborough. North Owersby.
North Thoresby. Elsham.
Great Limber. Grimoldby.
Marshchapel. Legbourne
Swaby. Minting.
Tathwell. Withern.
South Elkington. Theddlethorpe-St.
Ludford Parva. Helen.
Hainton. Huttoft.
Tealby. North Somereotes.
Walesby. Saltfleet.