HC Deb 21 May 1958 vol 588 cc1280-1
5. Mr. Storey

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones installed at the Urmston (West) Exchange between 1st May, 1957, and 1st May, 1958, and the number of outstanding applications at the latter date.

Mr. Marples

For the Urmston Exchange area the figures are 518 and 377, the latter including 36 in course of provision. All the outstanding applications in Urmston (West) at the date of my hon. Friend's previous Question on this subject have now been met. Special inquiry, which I do not think would be justified, would be needed to find out the current number of outstanding applications in that part of Urmston.

Mr. Storey

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply and for what he has done for Urmston (West), can I have an assurance that the Post Office will press on with the other two sections of the Urmston Exchange as quickly as possible?

Mr. Marples

We hope that all the people who are waiting for line plant will have their telephones by the spring of next year, when the new cable scheme is completed.

6. Mr. Storey

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones installed at the Longford Exchange between 1st October, 1957, and 1st May, 1958, and the number of outstanding applications at the latter date.

Mr. Marples

The figures are 132 installed and 50 outstanding, of which on 1st May, 1958, 34 were in course of being met.

Mr. Storey

Can my right hon. Friend explain the delay in completing the work on this exchange? Completion was first promised by September, then by the end of March, and there are still 57 outstanding applications.

Mr. Marples

Although they have been outstanding, 34 have been met, so there are only 16 outstanding, which is not a great number.

Mr. Storey

If I may say so, there were 179 outstanding last year; I had an undertaking that they would all have been met by the end of March, but they have not been installed. Can the right hon. Gentleman say when they will be?

Mr. Marples

As I have told my hon. Friend, we are waiting for cables, but I assure him that we shall press on.