§ 42. Sir Basil Neven-Spenceasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many townships and hamlets in Orkney and Shetland, respectively, have asked to be provided with telephone facilities, and what steps are being taken to meet their requirements.
§ Mr. BurkeSince my answer to the hon. Member's Question on 11th July last, two more applications for public telephone facilities in Orkney have been received, making a total of four. In only one case, however, is the necessary contribution of £4 for five years forthcoming from the local council, and in that case the work is already in hand.
As regards Shetland, the clerk to Zetland County Council, at the request of 28 the telephone manager, recently supplied for long-term planning purposes a list of 88 places where public telephone facilities are required and in respect of which the necessary contribution from the local councils would probably be forthcoming. This list includes 15 of the places mentioned in my previous answer. In all but a few cases the constructional work involved is likely to be substantial and a survey will therefore be carried out as quickly as possible in order that the work, which will take some considerable time to complete, can be properly planned.