§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Postmaster-General whether he will make, from such statistics as are conveniently available, a comparison between the proportion of night trunk calls completed on demand before and after the reintroduction of the 1s. night rate?
§ Captain WaterhousePrecise statistics are not available, but prior to the reintroduction of the 1s. night rate about 90 per cent. of the night trunk calls would be completed on demand. The traffic has now more than doubled and about 60 per cent. of the calls are being completed on demand and about 80 per cent. within half an hour.
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§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that delays of over one hour in obtaining night trunk telephone calls do frequently occur; that such delays are largely due to the encumbrance of the telephone service during the currency of the cheap night rate with long and unnecessary conversations; and whether, having regard to the fact that many persons, owing to their service or employment, have no access to telephones for private communications, except during the night period, he will reconsider his refusal to introduce a priority rate, which would enable urgent calls to be dealt with more promptly?
§ Captain WaterhouseI am aware that under existing conditions there is sometimes heavy delay at night on calls on the busier trunk routes. These delays are not primarily due to prolonged conversations, since when there is heavy pressure on a route the duration of calls is restricted to six minutes, or if necessary even to three minutes. With regard to the question of a priority rate, I am sorry that I can add nothing to my reply to my hon. Friend on 14th March.