§ 15. Mr. Snowasked the Postmaster-General why there is continued inadequate provision of telephone lines for industry going into the overspill area in the neighbourhood of Lichfield.
§ Mr. MawbyI understand that in the overspill area there are no people waiting for business telephones, but there are a number of outstanding applications for home telephones on new residential estates where cable laying is in progress.
The hon. Member has written to my right hon. Friend about delay in giving residential telephone service to an applicant in an adjoining area. I am looking 382 into the particular case to which the hon. Member has drawn my right hon. Friend's attention and will write to him as soon as possible.
§ Mr. SnowIs the hon. Gentleman aware that evidently his Departmental intelligence is very seriously lacking? Is he aware that on many occasions I have drawn his attention to the inadequacy of lines for the overspill area requirement, both industrial and private, and since it is a part of national policy to transfer industry and the population attached to industry to the overspill receiving areas, will he look into this matter again? What is the use of advertising that more telephones are available if industrialists cannot get them?
§ Mr. MawbyYes, Sir. Of course, there is no point in advertising unless the telephones are freely available. It is obvious that this is one of the difficult areas. As I have said, I am looking into this particular matter, and I will look at the wider issue again as well.