§ 2. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Postmaster-General how many private telephones in Aberdeen are in use; how many applicants are on the waiting list; and how these figures compare with those for each of the last 10 years at the corresponding dates.
§ Mr. MawbyAs the Answer contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report. The present waiting list is 18 compared with 1,354 in 1953.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister realise that the telephone system is of the utmost importance for business and social contacts in the north of Scotland, and will he, therefore, avoid copying the obnoxious policy of Dr. Beeching in the case of the railways, who is destroying valuable social and business contacts between the people there, and take steps to avoid that kind of obnoxious conduct in the case of the telephone?
§ Mr. MawbyIt is not for me to comment. Our aim is to make certain that communications will be the best possible for anyone who wants a telephone. This is our aim, and I believe that, in the main, in future this is what we shall achieve.
§ Following are the figures:
| — | Number of telephones | Waiting List | Applications under enquiry or being met |
| 30th September, 1953 | 14,620 | 1,354 | 326 |
| 30th September, 1954 | 15,935 | 1,094 | 310 |
| 30th September, 1955 | 16,659 | 1,466 | 239 |
| 30th September, 1956 | 17,445 | 882 | 452 |
| 30th September, 1957 | 18,507 | 126 | 491 |
| 30th September, 1958 | 18,567 | 49 | 260 |
| 30th September, 1959 | 18,903 | 73 | 208 |
| 30th September, 1960 | 19,493 | 104 | 252 |
| 30th September, 1961 | 20,328 | 111 | 203 |
| 30th September, 1962 | 20,590 | 27 | 233 |
| 30th September, 1963 | 21,227 | 25 | 265 |
| 30th November, 1963 | 21,317 | 18 | 295 |