§ 22. Rear-Admiral Morgan Gilesasked the Postmaster-General what is the average delay in providing additional telephone connections in the Winchester Exchange; and how this compares with the average throughout the country.
§ Mr. StonehouseThirty per cent. of all requests for telephones in Winchester are at present met on demand. For the rest there is an average delay of 7½ months. The comparable national figures are 86 per cent. on demand and an average delay of six months for those on the waiting list.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan GilesWill the right hon. Gentleman put more effort into providing more telephones promptly and less into advertising to try to persuade the public to use facilities that they cannot obtain?
§ Mr. StonehouseThere are only 611 people on the waiting list in Winchester, and as soon as the extensions to the Winchester Exchange are completed they will have connections. The extensions are being delayed because the industry could not provide the equipment required.