asked the Postmaster-General when the automatic register of telephone calls beyond the subscribers normal range of dialling local calls will become available.

The problem of extending subscribers' dialling beyond the range of local calls is being studied, but it will be some years before this facility can be made available.

In view of the fact that we now have to wait six months before we know the cost of these facilities for long distance telephone calls, could not some acceleration be made rather than having to wait from three to four years before installation?

I do not think I can accept the statement about six months, but there is room for development in this respect and we are studying the question very closely.