THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether research is proceeding (and if so with what prospects) into eliminating the serious noise nuisance recently created on private telephone receivers by contiguous railway electrification where this arises.
§ LORD SORENSENThe Post Office and British Railways collaborate closely on this problem. Noise suppression equipment has been developed for application at the source of the interference mentioned by the noble Lord, and on the affected cables themselves. When electrification of a stretch of railway is planned the Post Office examines the possible effect on cables running in close proximity. The action then taken varies according to the circumstances, but the aim is to eliminate noise if practicable, or at least to reduce it to a tolerable level.
If the noble Lord has in mind a particular case where difficulty is being experienced my right honourable friend the Postmaster-General would be glad to look into it.
House adjourned at one minute before nine o'clock.