§ 17. Mr. Gourlayasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Kirkcaldy Telephone Exchange is in a growth area as designated in the White Paper on Central Scotland; and what steps he intends to take to speed up the provision of subscriber trunk dialling in this area.
§ Mr. MawbyYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend expects to provide subscriber trunk dialling at Kirkcaldy early in 1966. We are sorry it is not possible to provide the facility earlier, but by that time 1232 90 per cent. of the subscribers in the Central Fife growth area should have S.T.D., compared with 70 per cent. in the United Kingdom as a whole.
§ Mr. GourlayIs the hon. Gentleman aware that when the areas of local calls were extended the price of a call from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh was increased; and, in view of the fact that it will be 1966 before S.T.D. is introduced into the Kirkcaldy area, will the hon. Gentleman not consider reintroducing a special charge for calls between Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh which are of great importance to the commercial interests in the area?
Mr. HamiltonCan the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that, in conformity with paragraph 11 of the recent White Paper, the growth area in Central Scotland will have S.T.D. with the rest of the country completely by 1970?
§ Mr. MawbyIt is our aim to carry out what is said in the White Paper, and this we shall certainly do.