§ 32. Mr. Sorensenasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of unsatisfied applications for telephone installations in the Borough of Leyton; the average period for which applicants must wait before service is provided; how many share lines; the number of public kiosks available; and what proportion of 2746 these are damaged or put out of action during the year.
§ Mr. GammansOne thousand and nineteen applications are outstanding; 984 telephones were connected during the past 12 months. The waiting time varies from place to place in the borough depending on whether lines are available or not, and an average figure cannot be given. One thousand and fifty-six subscribers in the borough share lines. There are 86 kiosks in service; full statistics of damage are not readily available, but 83 instances of glass being broken have been reported since the beginning of the year.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in this district and in others a number of installations are put out of action obviously quite maliciously? Can he say whether the position is improving or deteriorating?
§ Mr. GammansI think it is getting a litle better, although I would want notice of that question to give full information. There axe a number of cases of malicious acts, but in most parts of the country they are not too serious.