§ 23. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far the delay in the provision of telephones is due to difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of telephone cables
§ Mr. GammansThere is no difficulty in obtaining supplies of telephone cable from the manufacturers. Delay in expanding the local cable system arises from restrictions on capital investment; but as the position gets easier, we are gradually increasing the allotment for local cables.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs my hon. Friend aware that there has been a report in the technical Press which rather suggested that it was the fault of the manufacturers? Is my hon. Friend further aware there is no shortage whatsoever of cable and that the manufacturers of telephone cables are working much less than full capacity?
§ Mr. GammansI am aware of that, but the trouble now is shortage of capital investment. I must point out to the House, however, that in the past year we have reduced the waiting list for telephones by 65,000.