§ Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the average telegraph transactions in January, 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947, in Liverpool, Manchester, Bir-
Daily average transactions. Cardiff. Newport. Birmingham. Manchester. Liverpool. Bristol. January, 1944 … … 15,287 7,493 28,517 24,055 25,887 25,546 1945 … … 14,115 7,002 29,263 26,453 27,025 26,350 1946 … … 13,100 5,754 27,878 26,228 26,409 26,831 1947 … … 9,392 4,278 19,638 21,291 18,606 17,379 Staff January, 1944 … … 115 73 271 258 186 226 1945 … … 120 69 250 214 154 210 1946 … … 116 70 245 215 174 205 1947 … … 94 48 216 206 168 212 The figures of staff cannot be related directly to the number of transactions owing to the fact that during the war years the Post Office was short of telegraph staff with consequent deterioration of service; the deficiency was partly made up by overtime, records of which are now no longer available.