§ Lieut.-Colonel BURGOYNEasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the inefficiency of the British telephone service, he will consider an automatic service being established as speedily as possible; and whether he is having reports collected as to the relative efficiency of telephone services in other countries?
§ Mr. PEASEA number of automatic exchanges have been established and others will be installed in places where in efficiency and economy they are likely to be superior to manual exchanges. But I regret to find from recent tenders that the prices at present asked by the manufacturers for automatic apparatus are extremely high and almost prohibitive. I have received reports about telephone954W services in other countries. They are generally to the effect that the efficiency and cost of the services have been seriously affected by the same causes as in the United Kingdom.
§ Lieut.-Colonel BURGOYNEasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that the calling up of a subscriber, who, on going to the telephone, is informed that the operator is sorry that he has been troubled, is of increasing frequency; whether it is carelessness, bad organisation, lack of instruction, or mere inefficiency that causes this to take place; if he will state the number of complaints that he receives in regard to the working of the telephone; and if this total includes those complaints sent in to local offices?
(2) whether he is aware that when a telephone subscriber is cut off in the middle of a conversation the operators at both ends of the line invariably express their individual regret and state that it was not the fault of either; whether he is aware that it is very rare to carry on a connected conversation without constant noises on the wire and clicking in the ears; whether it is possible for a telephone operator to charges a subscriber for a call even if the connection has not been put through; and whether it is possible for an operator in regard to whom it is desired to make a complaint, and from whom a connection is asked to the supervisor, to connect the subscriber through to a personal friend, who will not make a report of the complaint?
§ Mr. PEASEThe irregularities mentioned may occur in certain conditions, but I do not think they are the habitual experience of the ordinary user of the telephone. I regret it is impossible to deal with the various points of detail without unduly encroaching on the time of the House, and I will, therefore, write to the hon. Member upon them.