§ 18. Mrs. Castleasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the large number of applicants on the waiting list for business telephones in the Blackburn telephone area, he will expedite the laying of a new cable in this area.
§ Mr. MarplesNew cables are at present being laid in Blackburn, districts being tackled in turn. The work is being pressed forward as quickly as our resources will permit, but I cannot yet say when the work will be finished.
§ Mrs. CastleWhile thanking the Postmaster-General for that encouraging reply, might I ask him to realise that there have been very long delays for business people in Blackburn, and will he, therefore, see that this work gets priority, as this is an important industrial area?
§ Mr. MarplesI could not give it priority, because the proportion of applications outstanding in Blackburn is slightly less than in the rest of the country.