§ 26. Mr. Gowerasked the Postmaster-General how many new telephone kiosks will be provided during 1962 in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.
§ Mr. BevinsThe current two-year programme for rural kiosks allows for 270 to be provided in England, 33 in Scotland and 40 in Wales. No similar programme is compiled in advance for kiosks in urban areas, but during 1962 I expect about 900 to be erected in England. 100 in Scotland and 50 in Wales.
§ 27. Mr. Gowerasked the Postmaster-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list giving particulars of the new telephone kiosks to be erected in each of the Welsh counties during 1962.
§ Mr. BevinsI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of kiosks to be erected in Welsh counties under the current two-year programme drawn up in collaboration with the Rural District Councils' Association for kiosks in rural areas. In addition, I expect about ninety kiosks to be erected in urban districts in Wales and the Border counties in 1962.
§ Mr. GowerWill the programme for these two years represent a marked change from that of the previous two years?
§ Mr. BevinsI cannot answer that question with precision without notice, but I think that it represents a slight improvement.
§ Mr. G. ThomasIn view of the isolation of the people in rural Wales now that the railways are to be closed down and the bus services are closing down, does the Minister realise the added importance of telephone kiosks, in enabling the people to keep in touch with their doctors, and so on?
§ Mr. BevinsThe Post Office is always very much alive to its responsibilities in rural and scattered areas.
§ Following is the list:
| Anglesey | … | … | 3 |
| Brecknockshire | … | … | 4 |
| Caernarvonshire | … | … | 3 |
| Cardiganshire | … | … | 3 |
| Carmarthenshire | … | … | 5 |
| Denbighshire | … | … | 4 |
| Flintshire | … | … | 3 |
| Glamorganshire | … | … | 3 |
| Merionethshire | … | … | 4 |
| Montgomeryshire | … | … | 3 |
| Pembrokeshire | … | … | 3 |
| Radnorshire | … | … | 2 |