HC Deb 09 April 1934 vol 288 cc19-20W
Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the Postmaster-General if he can make a statement with regard to his future policy as to the laying of telegraph wires underground, in order to avoid disfiguring the countryside; and by what date he anticipates that the great majority of overhead wires in this country will have been placed underground?

Sir E. BENNETT

About 90 per cent. of the total wire mileage of the telegraph and telephone services is already in underground cables. Such cables have been provided on practically all main roads in the country, and are utilised for all long-distance lines connecting the principal towns. It is, however, necessary in many cases to retain poles and

The Table below gives the information desired for March of each year since 1931. In view of the changes in the conditions for the receipt of insurance benefit, which came into operation in November, 1931, the figures for March, 1931, are not strictly comparable with those for later years.

Insured persons with claims admitted.
Employment Exchange. 23rd March, 1931. 21st March, 1932. 20th March, 1933. 19th March, 1934.
Standard Benefit. Transitional Benefit. Insurance Benefit. Transitional Payments. Insurance Benefit. Transitional Payments. Insurance Benefit. Transitional Payments.
Ferndale 932 1,135 3,016 1,750 2,788 2,493 1,748 2,877
Porth 974 1,109 1,066 2,046 562 2,662 408 2,825
Tonypandy 2,242 2,182 1,274 3,409 2,257 4,186 1,028 4,622
Treorchy 3,759 827 3,044 2,191 1,778 3,062 994 3,752
Neath 4,841 657 2,184 1,979 1,468 2,741 3,995 2,497
Pontardawe 1,394 81 357 525 485 554 801 420
Clydach 995 69 965 404 418 483 285 264
Ystalyfera 705 213 1,381 390 318 529 630 569
Resolven 328 148 843 240 329 199 852 205
Cymmer 865 283 565 697 420 614 295 533

Separate statistics for Treherbert and Gwauncaegurwen are not available.

wires for the purpose of local services, as the cost of providing such services entirely by underground plant would be prohibitive.