§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Postmaster-General why there is a prolonged delay on Waterloo 7999 before anyone answers the telephone; what action he is taking to rectify this; and by what date his Department will have arranged for incoming telephone calls to the Ministry of Transport to be answered with expedition.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterMy right hon. Friend is sorry for these delays. The switchboards are having to be taken out of service successively for modification while the private automatic branch exchange serving the Ministry is being enlarged and additional private wires installed. The difficulties have been aggravated by the need to provide, meanwhile, temporary service for some additional offices in a separate building. Some remedial measures have been taken and others are being examined urgently. The service will be restored to a more acceptable standard as quickly as possible.