§ 31. Sir C. Taylorasked the Postmaster-General how many people are now on the waiting list for telephones at Eastbourne; and how many are sharing lines.
§ Mr. BevinsAt 30th September last there were 47 applications on the waiting list at Eastbourne and 134 others were under enquiry or in course of being met. The number sharing lines is 2,620, out of a total of 8,754.
During the past twelve months 780 telephones have been provided.
§ Sir C. TaylorIs not a figure of over 2,000 people sharing lines a very high proportion compared with other parts of the country?
§ Mr. BevinsIn fact it is a lower proportion, I regret to say, than in many parts of the country. Even so, as I have 506 made clear on more than one occasion, it is our policy at the Post Office to give people free choice whether to have an independent or shared line as quickly as possible.
§ 32. Sir C. Taylorasked the Postmaster-General when he anticipates being able to install an automatic telephone exchange in Eastbourne and the surrounding sub-exchanges.
§ Mr. BevinsI expect to introduce automatic working at Eastbourne towards the end of 1964. The adjacent manual exchange at Hampden Park is due for conversion in 1962.
§ Mr. NabarroJust in time for the next election.
§ Sir C TaylorDo not all the replies we have had from the Postmaster-General suggest that he should take some advice from private enterprise on this nationalised industry?
§ Mr. BevinsI think that my hon. Friend realises that the Postmaster-General is subject to capital investment control like several of my right hon. Friends.