§ 18. Mr. John Wellsasked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the telephone service in the Maidstone area.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI am sorry that the service has been unsatisfactory because of the heavy load on the exchange. It is being extended and the new equipment, which will give S.T.D. facilities, should be in service by the middle of next year.
§ Mr. WellsI am grateful to the hon. Member for that assurance, but most of my constituents would rather have a plain 173 telephone quickly than hang about waiting for an S.T.D. one in the future. May we have an assurance that more lines will be available in the near future?
§ Mr. SlaterWe are doing all we can to improve the service on behalf of the hon. Member's constituents. As I have mentioned, the new subscriber trunk dialling equipment which we are installing should give a greatly improved service.