HC Deb 22 January 1963 vol 670 cc11-3
9. Mr. W. R. Williams

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can

now estimate what the increase in the number of telephones will be during the current financial year; and how this compares with the average annual rate of increase of 5 per cent. which he announced on 3rd July, 1962, was the basis of his planning.

Mr. Bevins

I estimate the increase in the number during the present financial year will be 310,000, an increase of 3.6 per cent. It is still my hope that we shall achieve an average increase of 5 per cent. over the next five years.

Mr. Williams

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why we are lagging behind that 5 per cent. when most other countries are exceeding the 5 per cent. which the right hon. Gentleman gave as his original project?

Mr. Bevins

If the hon. Member would care to refresh his memory, I think he would find that the 5 per cent. increase to which I referred was an average over a period of five years. The percentage happens to be lower this year because, as we explained in the 1962 White Paper, the development of the trunk system and mechanisation have claimed a larger proportion of our financial resources.