§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSasked the Postmaster-General when facilities will be available for absent telephone subscribers to have messages left; and what is the proposed extra cost per annum to subscribers?
622Wthe following statement, which shows the total value of the domestic exports of wholly or partly manufactured goods from the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States, respectively, in each of the years 1880, 1913, and 1930, distinguishing (a) the value of the exports from the United Kingdom and the United States of the commodities specified, and (b) the value of deliveries by Germany in 1930 on account of reparations.
3. The figures for the United Kingdom in respect of 1880 do not include the value of new ships and boats exported, particulars of which were not recorded in that year. The value of new ships and boats exported in 1913 was £11.0 million. The figures for 1880 and 1913 relate to the British Isles as a whole, while those for 1930 relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.
4. In the case of Germany, the figures for 1880 exclude, while those for 1913 and 1930 include, the value of ships exported and also the value of the "Improvement Trade" for Home Account. The figures for 1930 represent a classification of goods differing, in certain respects, from those covered in 1880 and 1913. The territory covered by the statistics for 1930 differs from that to which the figures for 1880 and 1913 relate.
5. The figures for 1930 are provisional except in the case of Germany.
§ Mr. ATTLEENo service precisely of the kind indicated in the question is in contemplation. An arrangement is experimentally in operation whereby a subscriber on the City Exchange (London) can have his calls intercepted during a period of absence. The duration and, if desired, the reason of his absence is com- 623W municated to any person who makes a call for him while he is away, and on his return he is given the telephone numbers of the callers. The charge for this service is 6d. for a period of interception not exceeding four hours and 1s. for a longer period, in addition to a fee of 1d. for each call intercepted. Very little use is being made of this facility.
§ Mr. ROSSasked the Postmaster-General whether he will give an assurance that no telephone material discarded in Great Britain as being out of date will, in future, be transferred to Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. ATTLEEIt is not the practice to transfer out-of-date equipment either to Northern Ireland or elsewhere. Telephone material is, however, often recovered while still fully serviceable, and is then reconditioned and utilised afresh. This arrangement applies equally to Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREasked the Postmaster-General the amount spent on telephone development for the three years 1928, 1929, and 1930?
§ Mr. ATTLEEThe figures are as follow:
£ 1928–29 … … … 10,199,151 1929–30 … … … 10,054,540 1930–31 … … … 10,000,000 (estimated). The figures cover expenditure on new works, sites and buildings, but not renewals or maintenance.