§ Mr. Gammansasked the Postmaster-General the cost of installation, per instrument, in the telephone service for the year 1937 and for the latest date for which figures are obtainable.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe cost of installation covers (1) the provision of the subscriber's pair of wires from the Exchange to his premises; (2) his instrument, bell and internal wiring; and (3) the exchange termination of his line. The average capital cost of installation on this 103W basis was estimated in 1939 (the nearest available year to that asked for) to be approximately £40 per exchange line instrument. Investigations into current costs are in hand but the results are not yet available.
§ Mr. Gammansasked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones installed in the year 1932 and yearly since then up to the latest date for which figures are obtainable, together in each case with the percentage increase for each year.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe figures for which the hon. Member asks are as follow:
NUMBER OF TELEPHONES INSTALLED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. Year ended 31st March. Gross No. of telephones installed. Percentage increase (or decrease) over previous year 1932 … 256,373 0.3 decrease 1933 … 264,091 3.0 increase 1934 … 279,526 5.8 increase 1935 … 347,215 24.2 increase 1936 … 365,114 5.2 increase 1937 … 437,956 20.0 increase 1938 … 436,624 0.3 decrease 1939 … 418,322 4.2 decrease 1940 … 451,421 7.9 increase 1941 … 446,388 1.1 decrease 1942 … 496,318 1.1 increase 1943 … 466,263 6.1 decrease 1944 … 440,656 5.5 decrease 1945 … 414,104 6.0 decrease 1946 … 503,864 21.7 increase 1947 … 832,101 65.1 increase Increase 1947 over 1932 = 224.6 per cent.