HC Deb 15 July 1966 vol 731 cc287-8W
Mr. Lubbock

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the growth in the average daily number of telephone calls passing through the House of Commons switchboard over successive quarters.

Mr. Bowden

Statistics are not available in the form requested. A count of the number of calls handled by the Palace of Westminster switchboard is, however, made between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on two appropriate days every second month and an average taken. The figures are as follows:

December, 1964 10,600
February, 1965 9,322
April, 1965 8,948
June, 1965 10,277
August, 1965 7,649*
October, 1965 4,513 (Recess)
December, 1965 10,017
February, 1966 11,011
April, 1966 11,228
June, 1966 12,329

*House adjourned at 5 p.m on second day of count.

Mr. Lubbock

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Administration Sub-Committee has visited the House of Commons switchboard in order to see the difficult conditions under which the telephone operators are working.

Mr. Bowden

Yes.

Forward to