asked the Postmaster-General why it is impossible to telephone to Caracas, Venezuela, from this country in view of the fact that it is possible to do so from New York.

Negotiations for the extension of the London—New York service to Venezuela are already in progress and I hope that service will be available from this country in the near future.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it causes considerable loss and inconvenience to commercial firms who are not able to get through on the telephone? As it is possible to get through from New York there seems to be no technical reason why we cannot get through from London.

That will depend entirely on the commercial undertakings on the opposite side of the Atlantic cooperating with us and agreeing to these facilities.