§ Mr. GOLDMANasked the Postmaster-General whether for the year ending March, 1912, the capital expenditure in respect of trunk lines was less than the expenditure for the year ending March, 1911; and whether, in view of the numerous delays in trunks, he will say what steps he has taken or proposes to take?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt is the case-that for the year ended 31st March, 1912, the capital expenditure on trunk lines was somewhat less than the expenditure for the previous year. A very large number of additional circuits are being constructed during the current financial year.
§ Mr. GOLDMANasked the Postmaster-General when the establishment of a telephone exchange in the neighbourhood of the British Museum was first determined by the Post Office; what has been the cause of the delay; and when he expects this exchange will be brought into use?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELProposals for the provision of a new telephone exchange in the vicinity of the British Museum were first made in 1909, but it was not possible until October, 1911, to obtain a suitable site in the situation where it was wanted. Difficulty in forecasting the telephone requirements of the new area led to some delay, but the building plans were settled and were approved by the City Corporation (the freeholders) in June, 1912. The building will probably be ready in March next, after which some months will be required for the installation of the telephone equipment and preparation for the opening of the exchange.
§ Mr. GOLDMANasked what were the outstanding applications for telephones in the London area and the provincial areas, respectively, on 1st January, 1912; to what extent these have now been reduced; how many further applications have been 479W received since that date; and how many remain uncompleted?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI regret that corresponding provincial statistics are not available. Steps are being taken to obtain in the future particulars of outstanding orders for telephones in respect of the whole of the Post 'Office service.
London Area. Number of applications for direct exchange lines (including those made to the National Telephone Company) outstanding on the 1st January, 1912 2,115 Number of applications for direct exchange lines received between the 1st January, 1912, and the 30th November, 1912 14,426 Total number of applications out standing on the 30th November, 1912 1,939
§ Mr. GOLDMANasked the Postmaster'General if he will state how soon after the award of the Railway and Canal Commission he expects to be in a position to announce the new rates; whether, in the event of their unfavourable reception, he will appoint a Parliamentary Committee to inquire and report on the same; and whether, in the event of such a committee being appointed, he will be willing that it shall have power to inquire whether the arrangements of the Post Office are adequate to properly provide for the development of the telephone system?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI hope that it may be possible to announce the revised scale of rates in the first half of next year. What would be the best form of committee for the consideration of the proposals if they should not be generally acceptable, and what the scope of its inquiry should
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— National Telephone Company's System. Original Post Office System. Total number of subscribers' lines (excluding call offices) on 1st January, 1912 362,614 80,456 Approximate percentages of these paying subscriptions at the following rates (with approximate rentals where available):— Unlimited service 39% (£1,574,000) 17% Message and measured service rates introduced before 1907 26% (£684,000) 65% Measured service rates introduced in 1907 35% (£1,027,000) 18% Party line rates (included in the above) 11% (£160,000) 3% be are questions which it would be premature now to decide.
Mr. ALAN SYKESasked the Postmaster-General why no trunk call book of subscribers is kept at the Members' trunk call office at the House of Commons as used to be kept when the telephone system was in the hands of the National Telephone Company; whether he is aware that, in consequence, when a Member wishes to call up over the trunk system, and knows the name, but not the number of the subscriber, the operator has to telephone to the inquiry office, and that this has entailed a loss of four minutes in getting the number telephoned back to the operator before he can ask for the call; and whether, seeing that if the trunk call books were available for the use of Members at their office in the House of Commons they or the operator could find the number in half a minute, he will supply a trunk call book with a view to the general saving of time?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI understand that the reference is to the Call Office in the Members' Cloak Room, formerly supplied by the National Telephone Company. I have given instructions for a complete Telephone Directory to be available there.
§ Captain GILMOURasked the Postmaster-General if he can give any further information concerning the number of telephone subscribers' lines at the various rentals on the original Post Office system and on that of the National Telephone Company?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAs promised in my answer of the 7th November, I give such information as it has been possible to obtain without serious difficulty. The figures are as follows:—