HC Deb 04 February 1948 vol 446 cc291-2W
100. Mr. Bossom

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that if a telephone breaks down on a Saturday morning it is now impossible to get it repaired until some time the following Monday; and what steps he is taking to expedite this service.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

It is unfortunately the case that, mainly owing to the un- predictable nature and incidence of telephone faults, we cannot guarantee that a fault will always be repaired on the same day as it is reported, whether on Saturday or any other weekday. The maintenance staff on duty on Saturday give preferential attention to faults carried over from the previous day and to faults reported on Saturday on essential or emergency lines. Subject to this, they are available to attend to other faults reported on Saturday, and local controlling officers are empowered to arrange for immediate repair in any such case if the need is really urgent.