§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Postmaster-General at what number of the 261 telephone exchanges in London and the 3,286 in the country established telephonist staff is now employed; and how many of these exchanges, when converted to automatic working, will dispense with established staff?
§ Sir W. WomersleyThere are 253 exchanges in the London Telecommunications Region and 5,410 in the rest of the country, of which 190 and 3,071 respectively have operating staff. Established telephonist staff is now employed at about 175 exchanges in the London Region and 1,230 other exchanges; and when conversion to automatic working has been completed established telephonist staff will have been dispensed with at some 75 and 950 of these exchanges respectively. This staff will be absorbed in other exchanges with the growth of the system.