§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Postmaster-General how many faults in the telephone service were reported during January and February; what percentage of these were attributable to the severe weather conditions; how these compared with the figures for the same period last year; and whether he has been able to assess the additional cost of work which has had to be undertaken because of the bad weather.
§ Mr. BevinsI am sorry that the precise information the hon. Member asks for is not available without special inquiry. Telephone fault reports during the severe weather were, however, about 30 per cent. above the normal figure. No cost figures for the additional work are yet available.