§ 15. Mr. Onslowasked the Postmaster-General what action he has initiated to remedy the plant defects which are the cause of failure of 9.7 per cent. of sub scriber trunk dialling calls from the Guildford telephone area.
§ Mr. BennThe high rate of plant defects experienced in the STD service from the Guildford telephone area during the quarter ended 31st December, 1965, was caused by engineering work required to expand the system in this fast-developing area. Much of this work is now coming to an end and I look forward to a marked improvement in a few months' time.
§ Mr. OnslowThe Postmaster-General will be aware that I have had a great deal of correspondence with him about 386 complaints by local residents in regard to the telephone and postal services. Does he not consider that it would be a step forward in his Department's public relations if a public meeting could be held in the area to explain precisely what the reasons are?
§ Mr. BennI shall certainly bear this point in mind, but it is inevitable, as with road building and other construction, that there is some interference with existing services. The Aldershot extension is complete. Basingstoke has been put on automatic service. Only the Camberley extension remains to be completed.