§ Mr. Jacksonasked the Postmaster-General the number of telegraph poles damaged during the past spell of frost and snow in England, Wales and Scotland; and whether he will consider burying wires in exposed districts in future?
§ Major TryonExact figures are not available, but it is estimated that several thousand poles were seriously damaged during the recent snowstorms. The work of restoration is proceeding as quickly as possible, and in many districts the situation is now normal. It is the policy of my Department to provide telephone service by underground wires in preference to overhead, wherever this would be reasonably economical; and over 14½ million miles, or more than 90 per cent. of all Post Office telephone wires, are already underground.