HC Deb 03 July 1969 vol 786 c633
10. Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles

asked the Postmaster-General when the extensions to the Winchester Telephone Exchange will be completed.

Mr. Joseph Slater

Provided the contractor maintains expected progress, by the end of 1969. I very much regret the inconvenience this is causing to the people who are waiting for telephones.

Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles

In February, the Postmaster-General said that the national figure was 86 per cent. of all applicants connected on demand. whereas some of my constituents still have to wait for a year. Can the hon. Gentleman say what steps have been taken since February to expedite matters?

Mr. Slater

We put in an extra 400 lines in April, and will be putting in more, but the waiting list of subscribers for these extensions will, it is estimated, have risen to 600 by the time the extensions are completed. They should all be connected by the early 1970s. That is the progress so far.