§ 27. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Postmaster-General how many private telephones exist at Douglas and Douglas, West, in the County of Lanark; and how many subscribers own shops or businesses.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonOn the Douglas exchange, which serves both Douglas and Douglas, West, there are 28 residence telephones and 81 business telephones.
§ Mr. MaitlandWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that since December some 70 families have now left this village, and that some 70 houses now stand empty—50 of them subsidised? Can he say whether any telephone subscriptions have been given up during this period, and whether any telephone equipment is not now being used in the exchange?
§ Mr. ThompsonI would need notice to answer the detail of that supplementary question. I do not know that the equipment we have available in the exchange is adequate for all the demands being made on it.
§ Mr. MaitlandIs it more than adequate?