§ Sir W. DAVISONasked the Postmaster-General whether his Department have under consideration the acquisition of a block of valuable residential property in Stanford Road, Kensington, with a view to erecting a telephone exchange on the site; whether he is aware that the houses in this street are fully let valuable residential properties which will be seriously damaged by the erection of a telephone exchange; and whether, in view of the existing shortage of houses and the difficulty of securing accommodation, he will see that the proposed exchange is erected on one of a number of vacant sites which are available in the district, or, at any rate, on some less valuable and expensive property, which will not cause a substantial reduction in the rateable value of houses in the vicinity, to the detriment of the borough?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe acquisition of some property in Stanford Road with a view to the provision of a new telephone exchange is under consideration. If the property is acquired the telephone exchange will be erected on ground forming part of the gardens of the existing houses, which will not be disturbed. The exchange will front on to a back street; and the amenities of the neighbourhood will not be affected. It is essential for 1853W the economical working of the telephone service that the exchange should be located as near as possible to the telephonic centre of the district. In the case of the district in question an exhaustive search extending over a long period has failed to disclose any other site, vacant or occupied, suitable for the purpose in view.