§ Major GLYNasked the Postmaster-General whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the efficiency of the telephone services in the Oxford area; whether the work of relaying the telephone lines will soon be completed; and what steps can be taken forthwith to improve the trunk line services?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe condition of the telephone service at Oxford has already been the subject of inquiry. Pending the completion of the new automatic exchange which it is hoped to bring into operation early next year, it was necessary as a temporary expedient to add to the equipment of the present exchange. Unfortunately, the progress of this work caused a number of electrical faults on the old equipment which greatly hampered the operators in their duties. The position has greatly improved with the completion of the work. As regards trunk service, the provision of additional trunk outlets from Oxford is in hand, and when these are brought into use the trunk service should be quite up to standard.