York Area

HC Deb 02 March 1949 vol 462 cc334-5

6. Mr. Wadsworth

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give consideration to increasing the number of men employed and the equipment available for the installation of telephone services in the York telephone area, in order to reduce the large number of applications for a telephone service and the heavy arrears of urgent work, including service to farms, at present outstanding.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

Constant attention is given to the possibility of strengthening the engineering force and increasing equipment supplies in individual Telephone Areas to meet special local needs. In view, however, of the restricted supplies of telephone plant available for home use and of the heavy pressure of work throughout the country, I regret that it is not possible at present to make any substantial change in the York Area.

Mr. Wadsworth

Is the Minister aware that from the replies which have been received from the York area and the Postmaster-General through myself, a large number of farmers in the York area and particularly in the East Riding of Yorkshire seem to have no hope of having the telephone at all in the near future, and that this is restricting their activities and is placing a severe penalty upon them?

Mr. Paling

I should like to be able to give these farmers telephones. It is a fact that we have had a tremendous number of applications from farmers in the York area, but when I was up there a month ago we seemed to be well up to our target.

Lieut-Commander Gurney Braith-waite

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the waiting list for the East Riding at the moment is greater or less than it was 12 months ago?

Mr. Paling

In some places it is tending to grow.

Mr. William Shepherd

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman is hampered by capital cuts; and is he going to kick up a big row this time with his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in order to get a bigger allocation for his Department?

Mr. Grimston

The Postmaster-General referred to being up to his target. Can he give some indication of what his target is in terms of the time required to catch up with these applications?

Mr. Paling

Not without notice.