§ Mr. DAYasked the Postmaster-General the gross revenue, expenditure and surplus from the wireless telephone service to ships at sea or land stations for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?
§ Major TRYONThe estimated gross revenue and expenditure during the last financial year of the radiotelephone services operated by the British Post Office were £148,000 and £177,000 respectively. The services are in an early stage of development; and the expenditure includes a considerable sum for experimental and development work.
Mr. MITCHELLasked the Postmaster-General (1) how many telephone lines there are at present between London and Edinburgh and between London and Glasgow; and whether it is intended substantially to increase this number in the near future;
154W(2) whether he is aware of the long delays in trunk telephone calls during the evening of 8th April; and whether he is taking steps to increase his staff to cope with increased work at holiday periods?
§ Major TRYONThere are now 24 direct telephone lines between London and Edinburgh and 39 between London and Glasgow. The total number of such lines has been increased from 26 to 63 since October, 1934, with the result that they are now adequate for ordinary purposes, and no further substantial increase in them is contemplated in the near future. The number of calls handled in the London Trunk Exchange on the evening of Wednesday, 8th April, was the greatest handled on any evening since the introduction of the 1s. night call in October, 1934. It was about 50 per cent. above normal and, in these circumstances, some delay was inevitable. In the case of trunk calls to Scotland, it varied from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. Steps were taken at Easter, as at all holiday seasons, to make special arrangements for coping with the large increases in traffic which occur at such times.