§ 8. Mr. David Watkinsasked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has to improve the telephone service between the Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Bristol telephone areas.
§ 41. Mr. Ellisasked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to improve the telephone service to the north of England, especially to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
§ Mr. StonehouseWe are putting in additional trunk lines. These will increase the route capacity between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Bristol by 30 per cent.
§ Mr. WatkinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that this is a continuing process, because there is an ever-growing volume of calls on this trunk line and there are at present long delays, particularly in the cheap rate period? Can he give the House any assurances about that?
§ Mr. StonehouseWe will provide an additional 45 lines. I think that these will be sufficient to deal with the increase in demand on this very important trunk route.
§ Mr. EllisCould my right hon. Friend supply interested Members with details of what the traffic has been in the past, what the build-up is likely to be, and an analysis? I believe that his officials sometimes provide interested parties with such information. This information would be useful to people who are interested in specific aspects of this question—for instance. Members of the House.
§ Mr. StonehouseYes; I will arrange to have this looked at. When I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Consett (Mr. David Watkins) that we were providing an additional 45 lines I should have said an additional 12 lines.
§ Mr. MilneWhen improvements are being made in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area and new telephone exchanges are being installed, will my right hon. Friend ensure that difficulties to subscribers in the changeover are reduced to the absolute minimum? Will he make a close investigation of this aspect?
§ Mr. StonehouseYes, Sir.