§ 18. Sir G. Foxasked the Assistant Postmaster-General why at any given time more than half the public telephone kiosks in Central London area are out of order; how many personnel he has repairing these; how many kiosks per man; and how this compares with pre-war.
§ Mr. BurkeI am satisfied that the proportion of kiosks out of order at any given time in Central London is very much smaller than is suggested. A staff of 138, about the same as before the war, attends to all telephones in the area and averages nine public telephones per man.
§ 19. Sir G. Foxasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what was the first date on which his Department was informed that all the four telephones in Burlington Gardens, W., were out of order and that three of them had had the instruments removed; why more than three weeks have elapsed before anything has been done; and how long after the original information was given it will be before they are working again.
§ Mr. BurkeThe four kiosks were reported to be out of order on 23rd December. In one the mechanism was faulty and was repaired the same day. In three the cords were cut through. Two of these were repaired the next day and the other had to await a new handset. Before this was replaced one of the other handsets was stolen and it was not until 7th January that all were working again. On 9th January two cords were cut through and since that date four cords have been cut and one telephone dial and three electric light bulbs have been stolen.