§ 27. Mr. Awdryasked the Postmaster-General what has been the change in the waiting list for telephones since 1951.
§ Mr. BevinsSince 1951 the waiting list for telephones has been reduced from 418,000 to 44,000.
§ Mr. AwdryI thank my right hon. Friend, but is he aware that the Bristol area still has some 16,000 subscribers on party lines? Will he take steps to see that more people are offered exclusive lines?
§ Mr. BevinsIt is true that there has been an increase of about 750,000 throughout the country of people who have shared services, but our objective is to let everyone have either shared or separate service. But until we have sufficient lines it is not practical to do away with shared service altogether.
§ Mr. W. R. WilliamsHow near is the right hon. Gentleman this year to the target of connections?
§ Mr. BevinsThere is a further question on that point. Broadly speaking, we are on target.