§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Postmaster-General the normal average time which should be taken by a subscriber, firstly in obtaining the tolls exchange, and secondly by being put through to a subscriber on the tolls system, assuming that the latter is not engaged at the time?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe average time taken for a London telephone subscriber on a manual exchange to obtain toll exchange is 23.2 seconds; and the average further time occupied in recording the particulars of the call and completing the connection to a subscriber's telephone within the London toll area is 33.6 seconds; making a total of 56.8 seconds. After this, on the average 33 seconds elapse before the distant subscriber's telephone (excluding the cases where it is engaged) is answered.