§ Sir J. LAMBasked the Postmaster-General his intentions in regard to the extension of telephone services in rural areas, as contained in the undertaking given by the Conservative Government when in office?
§ Mr. VIANTThis matter is under consideration, but my hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.
§ Mr. REMERasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the state of the telephone service at Romiley, Cheshire; whther he is aware that the promises made by the Post Office to provide a new automatic exchange have not be carried out; and when this state of affairs will be put on a satisfactory basis?
§ Mr. VIANTThe promise to which the hon. Member refers was to instal a temporary manual exchange to serve the Romiley area pending the provision of an automatic exchange. This promise is being carried out and the temporary exchange should be available for service in about six months time. The automatic exchange cannot be ready for some long time as it forms part of a large scheme for introducing automatic working into the Manchester area?
§ Mr. FOOTasked the Postmaster-General the names of the local post offices throughout the county of Cornwall where, up to the present, no telephone facilities have been provided?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI will send the hon. Member the information he requires.
§ Mr. TURTONasked the Postmaster-General whether, considering the lack of a public telephone at Kirby Misperton and the fact that the nearest telegraph 43W office is four miles distant, he will make some provision for more speedy communication to and from this township?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe provision of a telephone call office at Kirby Misperton is under consideration in connection with the recent Budget proposals for the provision of call offices at certain post offices in rural areas. I will write to the hon. Member when a decision is reached.