§ 26. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones on the Brixton Exchange were outstanding at the end of 1951, 1952 and at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Gammans1,426 applications were outstanding at 31st December, 1952, compared with 1,403 12 months earlier, but the number has now been reduced to 1,034.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for this welcome improvement, may I ask him now to say whether the extensions to the Brixton Exchange which were to be put into effect by the end of 1952 will, by the end of 1953, result in a really substantial decrease in the numbers outstanding?
§ Mr. GammansThere will be a decrease but not as large a decrease as I should have liked, because the limiting factor there is not exchange equipment but the shortage of line equipment.