19. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to reduce the congestion of telephone lines between London and Scotland during the normal working day.
§ Mr. StonehouseAdditional equipment is being installed in the trunk exchanges in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The congestion is in these exchanges rather than on telephone lines between London and Scotland.
Mr. TaylorDoes the Postmaster-General realise that the present congestion is intolerable and is causing serious inconvenience to business? Can he give an estimate of the number of subscribers during one day who are linked to a voice saying, "The lines to Glasgow are engaged. Please try later"?
§ Mr. StonehouseI cannot say offhand. What I can tell the hon. Gentleman is that the extension at Edinburgh should have been completed in March, 1968, and the one at Glasgow in June, 1968. The contractor was unable to complete his programme by the due date, so unfortunately we have not been able to bring the equipment into use earlier.