§ 48. Mr. Benceasked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in expanding the inland telephone system to meet the demand for service and for calls.
§ Mr. BennIn the financial year just ending, the Post Office expects to have provided nearly 20 per cent. more new exchange connexions than ever before in one year, and 25 per cent. more lines in the local cable network; and to have handled 16 per cent. more trunk calls and 8 per cent. more local calls than it did last year. A greatly enlarged capital programme has been prepared to handle an even higher level of demand over the next few years.