§ 40 Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will make a statement about the proposed radio-telephone extension to the Western Isles; which islands will be served; whether further local extensions will be made among the smaller islands; and how soon these developments will take place;
(2) what steps have been or are being taken to provide public telephones for day and night use in the villages of the Western Isles;
(3) whether he will take action to provide all nurses' cottages in the Western Isles with telephones connected directly with local doctors' houses?
§ Major TryonTrunk telephone service to Harris via Stornoway will be available about the end of next month. Telephone service will eventually be provided to all the important islands in the Western Isles. The main link with the Southern Islands of the Outer Hebrides will be provided by means of a radio-telephone channel from Castlebay to Tobermory. The smaller islands will also be served where the cost is not prohibitive. It is not possible at this stage to say when the 781 work will be completed, but it is proceeding now. The hon. Member will appreciate that it is not practicable to say what can be done in kiosk provision until the general scheme of communications for the outlying islands has been developed further. When this stage has been reached, the extension of kiosk facilities to the islands will be considered. I have no authority to provide telephone service at nurses' cottages and doctors' houses otherwise than on the usual rental terms.
§ Mr. MacMillanMay we have a more definite assurance that the service will eventually be supplied in the smaller islands? May we have any hope at least that in the islands which are already connected kiosks will be established?
§ Major TryonThat was covered in my original answer. We are getting on with the work.