HC Deb 20 February 1957 vol 565 cc73-4W
Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General the nature, location, and value of the damage done to postal, telephone, and telegraph installations in Scotland by and during the recent winter storms; and the cost of making good the damage.

Mr. Marples

The storm of the 4th February cut off 18,000 subscribers and 144 telephone exchanges. The damage was caused mainly by trees falling on overhead wires and cables and affected most parts of Scotland, particularly Argyll, Inverness-shire, Perthshire and Ross and Cromarty. All the exchanges and almost all the subscribers have been reconnected, but permanent repairs will take some months.

The high winds also caused some damage to 17 Post Office buildings.

The total cost of making good the damage is likely to be about £60,000.