32. Miss Wardasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications have been received for telephones for each region since January, 1952; how many have been supplied; and what percentage of the population awaiting telephones in each region this represents.
§ Mr. GammansAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Miss WardDo those figures reflect that the North-East Coast has had a fair share of the new telephones?
§ Mr. GammansI think that the hon. Lady had better read the figures first and then perhaps she can express an opinion on them.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that what is a fair share is probably a matter of opinion.
§ Following is the reply:
| Region | Applications received in 1952 | Telephones supplied in 1952 | Percentage telephones supplied in 1952 based on applications outstanding at 31st December 1951 plus applications received in 1952 | |
| London | … | 109,505 | 99,823 | 40 |
| Home Counties | … | 50,532 | 45,849 | 43 |
| Midland | … | 32,906 | 30,043 | 30 |
| North Eastern | … | 38,115 | 33,789 | 40 |
| North Western | … | 37,759 | 32,332 | 32 |
| Northern Ireland | … | 5,024 | 4,677 | 29 |
| Scotland | … | 28,679 | 28,010 | 39 |
| South Western | … | 27,871 | 26,703 | 42 |
| Wales and Border Counties | … | 13,993 | 12,269 | 30 |
34. Miss Wardasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how much capital expenditure has been allocated to each region for the supply of telephones in 1951 and 1952; and what percentage of the population in each region this represents.
§ Mr. GammansAs the answer includes a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Miss WardMay I ask my hon. Friend again whether on this occasion he happens to know whether the North-East Coast has had a fair share of the new telephones?
| Region | Capital expenditure in 1951–52 and 1952–53 | Percentage of total capital expenditure | Distribution of total population | Distribution of subscribers and waiting applicants applicants |
| (£'000s) | per cent. | per cent. | per cent. | |
| London | 18,263 | 25.4 | 18.5 | 30.7 |
| Home Counties | 10,893 | 15.3 | 12.3 | 13.9 |
| Midland | 7,677 | 10.7 | 13.3 | 10.5 |
| North Eastern | 7,918 | 11.0 | 15.2 | 10.0 |
| North Western | 7,846 | 10.9 | 13.3 | 11.6 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,370 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 1.5 |
| Scotland | 6,743 | 9.4 | 10.2 | 9.2 |
| South Western | 6,926 | 9.6 | 8.2 | 8.5 |
| Wales and Border Counties | 4,173 | 5.8 | 6.3 | 4.1 |
| Total | £71,809 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
§ The demand for telephone service is not directly related to the population but varies in different regions. To illustrate this, figures are also given in the foregoing table showing the distribution of subscribers and waiting applicants.
1280§ Mr. GammansMy hon. Friend has asked for a very complicated set of figures, and I am sure that I should be detaining the House unnecessarily if I read it out, but that would be the only way to give a satisfactory answer to her Question.
§ Mr. HobsonIs not this a case where capital expenditure was limited because of the ban that Her Majesty's Government put on the building of new telephone exchanges?
§ Mr. GammansI am afraid that that is true of the country as a whole.
Following are the figures:The capital expenditure figures represent expenditure for two years on local and junction cables, exchange equipment, buildings and on connecting up subscribers and telephone kiosks. They exclude expenditure on trunk service since this represents national rather than regional development of the system.