§ Lieut.-Colonel RAYMOND GREENEasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received representations from the Metropolitan borough councils condemning the inefficiency and disorganised condition of the public telephone service; and whether he can state what steps he proposes to take so as to ensure an adequate telephone service in the near future?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI have not received any general representations from the Metropolitan borough councils. As I explained fully in connection with the Post Office Estimates, the present difficulties in connection with the telephone service are directly due to the war conditions, which made it necessary to suspend the provision of new exchanges and underground lines, and led to the depletion of the skilled operating staff. Active stepare being taken to overtake the arrears of constructional work and to increase the number and efficiency of the operating staff.