HC Deb 14 May 1963 vol 677 cc1121-3
31. Sir A. Hurd

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that residents on the Highlands Estate, Bucklebury, including elderly people in ill-health, have been told that they will have to wait two years before they can have a telephone service; to what extent telephone development plans in the Reading area are still conditioned by restricted funds for capital investment; and what increased provision is being made in the current year so that arrears can be made good and the demand for telephones met promptly.

Mr. Bevins

The pace of telephone development in the Reading area, as elsewhere, is dependent on the resources available. This year's capital programme for the area is 5 per cent. higher than last year's: but, in view of the volume of urgent work, I am sorry that some delays in providing service, as in the case of the Highlands Estate, are difficult to avoid.

Sir A. Hurd

Is my right hon. Friend as dissatisfied as I am that there should be a delay of two years in installing a telephone? Will he have another look to see what is the real hold-up in the Reading area? Is it lack of money? If so, surely the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be helpful? If it is lack of skilled manpower, could not that be recruited? He must have another look at this matter.

Mr. Bevies

The number of people who have to wait a period of that sort are very few, but Reading is a special case where there has been an increase of about 100 per cent. in the number of subscribers in the past 10 years. However, I am trying to secure some additional capital which should be able to help with the Reading problem.

Mr. Peter Emery

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a member of his Department told me that the increase in demand in the Reading area in ratio to the population was greater than anywhere else in the United Kingdom? Will he, therefore, take special methods—[Interruption.]

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

Mr. Speaker, at the risk of being out of order, I think that the whole House would wish me to welcome most warmly my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) on his return to the House of Commons after his accident and to say how glad we are to welcome our most distinguished Member.

Mr. H. Wilson

Further to that point and equally out of order. May I say on behalf of my right hon. and hon. Friends how much we welcome the sight of the right hon. Gentleman for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) coming into this Chamber again after his accident? We are glad to see him so fully restored that he can do this again, and the whole House will join with the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister in giving him the happiest possible welcome.

Mr. Grimond

May I say that the Liberal Party would like to be associated with those sentiments?

Mr. Speaker

Now for the hon. Member for Reading, in order.

Mr. Peter Emery

Never have I been so delighted to hear the House out of order so much.

I was asking whether, in view of the special demand in Reading, my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General would take every extra effort possible to find a method of going further than was originally planned three years ago. The demand in this period has risen more than was originally estimated.

Mr. Bevins

I will willingly consider any additional measures which could be usefully taken.