§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the average time from the beginning of a telephone call until the telephonist answered was 6.3 seconds in 1928, as compared with 5.5 in 1927 and 5.2 in 1921; what is the reason for the slower service; and whether any action is being taken to reduce the length of the interval?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe increase from 5.5 seconds in 1927 to 6.3 seconds in 1928 was due in part to sudden expansion of traffic in the early part of the year, and was also influenced by difficulties arising out of the widespread damage to telephone circuits caused by the Embankment Subway fire, by floods and by other exceptional conditions. Steps have been taken to decrease the interval so far as it depends upon circumstances which can be controlled.