§ 4. Mr. Peter Griffithsasked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers within the Birmingham telephone area were compelled to accept shared lines at the latest convenient date and one year previously.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI am sorry that this information is not readily available, but at 31st October about 44,600 of the 183,000 subscribers in the Birmingham Telephone Area had accepted shared lines. The figures one year previously were 36,300 and 168,400 respectively.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable concern at the harsh policy adopted by the Post Office in this matter, in particular since the reply that I received from the Postmaster-General which said that exemptions must be consistently rejected?
§ Mr. SlaterI am sorry, but I must tell the hon. Member that we shall have to continue to ask these people to share when this is necessary, in order to improve the service to others. We have a long waiting list, and people are constantly making application for the installation of telephones. We are also constantly receiving requests from Members of Parliament in respect of individual cases. Until we can overcome this waiting list problem shared lines will have to continue to operate.
§ 5. Mr. Peter Griffithsasked the Postmaster-General what was the number of outstanding applications for the installation of a telephone within the Birmingham telephone area at the latest convenient date and one year previously.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterExcluding orders in hand or under inquiry, the numbers were 3,663 at 31st October, 1965, and 1257 3,802 one year earlier. During these twelve months the number of connections increased by about 14,600.
§ Mr. GriffithsDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that this indicates that a harsh policy with regard to shared lines is quite unnecessary?
§ Mr. SlaterNo, I cannot agree. Most of those who are now waiting should have the service by March, 1966.