§ 33. Mr. Gowerasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of dissatisfaction regarding the number of outstanding applications for telephones by residents in the Whitchurch and Rhiwbina areas of the county of Glamorgan; and if he will take steps to expedite the work of providing telephones to these applicants.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonYes, Sir. Three hundred telephones were installed in these two places during the past 12 months, and we hope to put in a further 450 by the middle of next year.
§ Mr. GowerDoes my hon. Friend realise that whereas there were three on the waiting list in an area which has just been referred to, there are hundreds on this waiting list, and a disproportionate number of those on the waiting list are people with an urgent need for the telephone for business, professional and other reasons, who have had telephones at their previous addresses for very many years? In the circumstances, can more be done and done more quickly?
§ Mr. ThompsonThose considerations are what have led us to embark on the provision of a new telephone exchange which is to open next January and on a large number of the new cable schemes which are going on.