§ 20. Mr. Spearmanasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will take steps to expedite the additions to the telephone exchange at West Ayton, near Scarborough, in view of the fact that there are several applicants for a telephone who have been told that under the present arrangements they will not get one until the middle of 1955 or later.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. David Gammans)Additional equipment for the West Ayton exchange is now being manufactured, but, owing to the many urgent calls on our resources, I am afraid it will not be possible to complete installation earlier than the middle of 1955.
§ Mr. SpearmanCan my hon. Friend explain why there need be such a long delay in providing an essential service, and would he say whether it is due to work on television, which surely is more of a luxury?
§ Mr. GammansIt has nothing what ever to do with television. The trouble is that the West Ayton exchange is not very high in the priority list.