§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Postmaster-General whether the benefit of minimum rental installation recently extended to rural telephone subscribers carries with it any mitigation of the guarantees demanded from such subscribers; or whether the provision of instruments without guarantees applies only to call offices at rural post offices and railway stations?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe radius covered by the minimum rental for an exclusive exchange line has been extended from 1½ to 2 miles, and telephone subscribers more than a mile and a half from the Exchange have had their rentals reduced. As guarantees are not required from ordinary subscribers, I assume that the hon. and gallant Member refers to guaranted call offices on private premises. These offices are not included in the scheme for the provision of public call offices at rural post offices and railway 1255W stations though the guarantors will receive the benefit of the extended radius from 1½ to 2 miles in any case where the call office is more than a mile and a half from the Exchange.