§ 41. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Postmaster-General when he expects the new telephone exchange at Willenhall will be completed; and when it will become operational.
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. Reginald Bevins)The new building should be completed by October. 1960, and I expect the exchange to be operational towards the end of 1961.
§ Mr. StonehouseWhile appreciating that reply, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the bad service, particularly during peak hours, has been a severe handicap to industrial concerns in Willenhall? Will the right hon. Gentleman expedite the completion of this exchange?
§ Mr. BevinsI am aware that the service in Willenhall is not all that it should be, but the present exchange caters, I think, for about 1,300 subscribers. The new exchange will cater for about 1,800, and we shall have it on subscriber trunk dialling by 1964 at the latest.