Commander Maitlandasked the Postmaster-General why it is necessary to send out engineering staff from telephone area headquarters to fit suppressors; and what saving of public money would be made if this work were carried out by local electrical engineers.
§ Mr. AlportInterference work is highly specialised and is usually concentrated at telephone area headquarters because this is the best way of organising it. Most of the time of the engineering staff concerned is occupied in visits to trace interference, and the fitting of suppressors is only an incidental item in such visits when the offending apparatus is found. The Post Office does, of course, charge for the fitting of suppressors and in July, 1955, we asked the industry to make suggestions for revised Post Office charges which would enable retailers to offer a service alternative to that of the Post Office, but so far no reply has been forthcoming.